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• The Beer Academy, the educational scheme launched to improve knowledge of beer, is now seeking its first executive director ...more info



• The UK brewer and pub operator, Fuller, Smith & Turner, based in London, posted on November 21 profit before tax up 4% to £8.0 million for the full year ...more info



• The Austrian brewer, BBAG, has postponed the release of its third quarter earnings until December 12 ...more info



• The first world brewer, Anheuser Busch, has announced recently that it had signed a multi-year contract with the National Football League ...more info



• Czech breweries produced 14.041 million hectolitres of beer in January-September 2003, an increase of 1% year-on-year, according to data released on November 24 ...more info



• The largest Russian beer maker, OAO Baltika Brewery, announced on November 24 the appointment of Ekaterina Azimina as a new chief financial officer ...more info



• About 37 million pints of beer were drunk in pubs all over England on Saturday’s World Cup Final win over Australia, industry estimates suggest ...more info



• Scottish & Newcastle announced that it is finalising plans to merge the Beer Seller wholesale business with its Waverley wine distribution arm, according to The Puplican report ...more info

2. Brewery News

Thai Asia Pacific Brewery Co (TAPB), part of the Dutch beer giant Heineken, announced on November 25 a comprehensive marketing plan to sustain its leadership in Thailand's premium beer market amid the expected heavy competition next year, particularly from local brewer Boon Rawd Brewery, Bangkokpost reported on November 26. The producer of the 70-year-old Singha Beer said recently that it would expand aggressively into the premium beer segment next year, aiming to capture a market share of 6-7% through the relaunches of the Asahi and Mittweida brands. Panya Pongtanya, TAPB's general manager, said his company would spend about 650 million baht next year on advertising and marketing campaigns in order to sustain its strong performance. At the same time, the company will also introduce a new dispenser and keg of Heineken draught beer, called Easy-Draught. The new system, developed in the Netherlands, allows sellers to keep beer even longer, for up to 21 days from three days currently. The launch is aimed at small restaurants, perceived as an additional distribution channel for Heineken beer nationwide, and at promoting draught beer consumption not only in the winter but throughout the year. Two hundred restaurants will be chosen to join the project this year the number will be increased to 350-400 next year...more info

Canadian beer maker, Labatt Breweries, is releasing a beer that it claims will deliver the taste of a light ale, but provide less than half of the carbohydrates, The Vancouver Sun reported on November 25. "This is our early holiday gift to beer drinkers," said Nigel Miller, a spokesman for Labatt Breweries of Canada. "We're launching Labatt Sterling to appeal to the growing number of people who are looking for a beer that fits their lifestyle." The lifestyle that Miller speaks of is the growing number of Canadians who are adopting new methods of controlling weight gain, such as the popular Atkins diet, the Zone diet or the Sugar Busters diet. These restrict the amount of carbohydrates that a person eats daily. This means that breads, cereals, certain vegetables, sugar and even beer must be cut back dramatically. Labatt's new Sterling beer has only 2.5 grams of carbohydrates per bottle, about 75 % less than a regular beer and half of those found in a light beer. Each bottle has 88 calories, as compared to 145 calories in a regular beer and 110 in a light beer. The company isn't the first to release a carbohydrate conscious brew, Sleeman Breweries Ltd., has been marketing a similar beer called Sleeman Clear which also contains only 2.5 grams of carbohydrates per bottle. Miller would not say how the carbohydrate level of the beer is lowered. But, he said it is not at the expense of the beer's alcohol content, which is four per cent, the same as a regular light beer. He said Labatt has been working on the new beer for more than a year...more info

Russian Brewing force OAO Baltika Brewery posted on November 25 the results for the first nine months of the year. For this period Baltika sold about 12.8 million hl of beer. Company’s market share accounted 20.8% for the nine months of the year. Baltika’s export increased by 7% and reached 796 thousand hl. Total sales volume (including VAT and excise duty) increased by 1% to US$ 725 million versus the same period last year. However net sales volume (excluding VAT and excise duty) decreased by 1% to US$ 555 million. Company’s net profit dropped 3.3% to US$ 111 million year-on-year and operational profit dropped 11% to US$ 148 million. The company, owned by Carlsberg and Scottish & Newcastle, attributed the declines to an increase this year in beer excises.

Philippine business tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco, chairman of the San Miguel Corp, has ended speculation about his political plans, declaring he would not seek the presidency in elections next May, according to Reuters November 26. "I am not," Cojuangco told reporters at a private party on Tuesday night when asked if he would stand. "We will just leave it to others." Cojuangco's decision not to run has increased speculation film idol Fernando Poe Jr will contest the presidency as the opposition's flag bearer. Poe's lack of political or economic experience has unnerved markets, but his supporters say he is a clean candidate, untainted by the corruption and scandals that are common fare in the Philippines' turbulent democracy. Cojuangco, 68-year-old chairman of the San Miguel Corp, seller of nine of 10 beers in the Philippines, said he had not decided whom to support in the election but may end up backing Poe should the film star declare his candidacy. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who took power in January 2001 after then leader Joseph Estrada was ousted in a popular uprising over charges of corruption, has declared she would seek a new term. Cojuangco is locally dubbed the "kingmaker" because of his financial clout and links with leading Filipino politicians. He ran for the presidency in 1992 but was thrashed by former defense secretary Fidel Ramos. In recent months, he was frequently rumored to be planning a second bid.

3. Malt News

Ireland, Dublin: Greencore Group plc, the convenience food and ingredients group, announced on November 26 its preliminary statement of results for the year ended September 26, 2003. Profit before tax, exceptional items and amortization up 7% to EUR 67.8 million; 1 % overall like-for-like sales growth, with 4% in convenience food divisions. The ingredients and agribusiness division performed strongly. Operating margins improved significantly, resulting in operating profit(a) of EUR45.0 million, up 4% on a like-for-like basis. The profits of the Group's malt business increased following record production levels, improved margins and ongoing cost control. The strong performance was achieved despite a 5% decline in turnover, principally as a result of a stronger comparable period for the malt division following last year's successful de-stocking program. The malt division has experienced higher barley prices in recent months, although malt prices are yet to reflect these increases fully. Nonetheless, strong operational efficiencies and cost management combined with the division's sales and purchasing expertise, should enable a satisfactory performance to be delivered...more info

4. Barley News

Australia, Adelaide: Agribusinesses AusBulk and ABB Grain have exchanged shots over a recent shipment of Victorian malt barley to Japan, The Herald Sun news agency reported November 24. ABB Grain last week accused AusBulk of undermining barley growers' income after it sold a shipment of malting barley to Japan's shochu (distilled spirits) market at an "opportunistic" A$US100-a-tonne discount. ABB Grain, which controls exports from South Australia, and its joint venture partner, Grain Pool of Western Australia, criticised AusBulk. "ABB and Grain Pool have been developing the market for shochu barley for many years, with hundreds of thousands of dollars invested in a complex research and allied breeding program aimed at producing the best barley variety for this premium product," ABB grain chairman Trevor Day said. "Growers ... now stand to lose the excellent returns from this market if discount sales take effect," Mr Day said. But AusBulk managing director John Murray described the discount claim as "unbelievable". "Our sale of shochu barley was at levels which exceeded the premiums currently being paid by ABB to growers," Mr Murray said. "Our sale was an example of how closer links between end-users and growers ... can deliver benefits to both growers and marketers and ultimately expand trading relationships."

EU: Due to substantial replacement of lost winter wheat acres by spring barley, the crop of spring barley turned out larger than last year's and of good quality as well. It was mainly wheat, but also maize and winter barley, which provided for the total minus of 25 Million tonnes. In their November estimate "Stratégie Grains" puts the export surplus of malting barley at 2.2 Million tonnes. “Because of the great demand for feed it looks, however, as we may have trouble in the end to supply the malting barley needs of our own industries and our direct European neighbors,” EU analysts said.

Major barley importers