Bryggerigruppen, the Danish brewing group, has reported that it is aiming to close its Thor brewery at Randers in northern Denmark, during the third quarter of 2003. The company will keep the Thor brand, however, but brew the beer at its remaining plants. The Randers facility, with a staff of some 150 people, is currently used for the production of the Thor brand which will now be moved to the company's breweries in Aarhus in central Denmark or Faxe in the east of the country.

The company has also reduced its pre-tax profit forecast for 2003 by DKr40m (US$5.8m/ˆ5.4m) to between DKr210m (US$30.6m/ˆ28.3m) and DKr235m (US$34.2m/ˆ31.6m) as a result of the closure. However, Bryggerigruppen said the closure would boost pre-tax profit in 2004 by DKr15m (US$2.2m/ˆ2.0m).

12 February, 2003