Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. reported that fourth quarter 2007 net sales increased 7.9 percent and diluted earnings per share increased 16 percent. For the full year 2007, net sales increased 6.2 percent and diluted earnings per share (excluding normalization items in both years) improved 10.3 percent, according to company’s press release, January 31.

"Anheuser-Busch achieved significant results in 2007," said August A. Busch IV, president and chief executive officer of the company. "We achieved strong earnings growth and broadened our beer portfolio to enhance our participation in the high-end segment. Our revenue per barrel performance was solid and we managed cost pressures effectively. International beer profits for the year for both our operations and those of our equity partners increased significantly and our packaging and entertainment segments contributed strong earnings growth. We also achieved significant increases in operating cash flow, return on capital and cash returned to shareholders."

U.S. beer shipments-to-wholesalers increased 3.4 percent for the fourth quarter, while sales-to-retailers increased 1.3 percent, on a selling day adjusted basis. Import brands contributed 230 basis points of growth to shipments and 180 basis points to wholesaler sales-to-retailers.

For the full year 2007, shipments-to-wholesalers increased 2 percent, and sales-to-retailers increased 1.3 percent with acquired and import ...More Info

Czech beer production will reach a record 20 million hectolitres last year, about one percent more on the year, and Czech beer exports will grow from 3.54 million to 3.7 million hectolitres, Jan Vesely, chairman of the Czech Beer and Malt Association, told CTK, January 29.

Final results for last year covering 45 industrial breweries operating on the Czech market will be available in February, said Vesely.

Markets in the neighbouring countries of Russia and Poland grow most dynamically, while the Slovak, Austrian and Hungarian markets are stagnant and the German market has been falling six years except for 2006.

Exports grow at a slower pace but still remain the main driving force of rising Czech production.

Last year, breweries exported nearly 3.7 million hectolitres, a growth of 160,000 hectolitres over 2006 when exports rose four times compared with 2005.

"I expect exports to rise by 150,000 hectolitres at most this year, with domestic sales remaining flat," said Vesely.

His words were confirmed by Mike Short, CEO of the largest Czech brewery Plzensky Prazdroj, at a news conference Tuesday.

Exports make up more than 18 percent of the output, most of them going to EU countries.

Now, however, it is more difficult to sell beer abroad also given ...More Info

Leading Chile brewer CCU said its 2007 net profit rose 32 percent from the same period last year as revenue climbed, according to Reuters, January 31.

CCU, also Argentina's second-largest beer producer, said profit rose to 79.199 billion pesos ($159 million) in 2007 from 59.964 billion pesos in 2006.

Total revenue rose 7.2 percent to 628.284 billion pesos from 586.186 billion pesos in 2006, as consolidated sales volume rose 6 percent. The largest percentage gains were in Argentina.

Operating profit rose 18.5 percent to 101.384 billion pesos, while operating losses fell.

The company agreed to buy Argentine brewer Inversora Cervecera (ICSA) in early October for $88 million.

($1 = 497.8 pesos)

Australia's three largest brewers are set to increase beer prices at the end of the week, according to Reuters, January 30. Foster's Group will lift prices by 1.9 percent to 3 percent, Lion Nathan by 1.7 percent and Coopers Brewery by 1.82 percent to 1.86 percent.

Coopers Brewery managing director, Tim Cooper, said the move to raise prices above the level of an automatic excise increase was prompted by an imminent 40 percent rise in malt prices from April and higher input costs. Foster's has the largest share of the beer market with 55 percent, while Lion Nathan has 42 percent and Coopers 3.5 percent.

Belarusian brewers produced 3.55 mil hl of beer in 2007 which is 7.1% more than in 2006, according to “Belgospischeprom”, Interfax reported January 31.

The main producers were Krinitza brewery with 40.9%, Syabar with 15.7%, Olivaria with 12.7%, Lidskoe Pivo with 12.1%, Brestskoe Pivo – 8.4% and Rechitza Pivo – 8.1%.

According to specialists, beer consumption in Belarus in 2007 was of 4.5 mil hl, 15.6% higher than in 2006. The share of imported beer constituted 22.2% from total consumption volume (1 mil hl). The beer imports increased 61% in 2007 compared with 2006.

Stefan Maria Weber, the new chairman of Ursus Breweries, the producer of Ursus and Timisoreana beer brands, says he is impressed with the domestic beer market's growth rate over the past two years, but believes growth will slow down in 2008, Ziarul Financiar published February 29.

"The growth rate the Romanian beer market posted last year was very strong and unprecedented, exceeding even Russia's. We saw the biggest market increases of the past 18 months, with high temperatures and changing consumer habits proving to be the main growth drivers. This year, however, I don't expect market growth to top 10%," Weber told ZF in his first interview since his appointment as chairman of Ursus Breweries.

He became chairman on November 1, 2007, and replaced Dieter Schulze. Previously, Weber worked as sales, distribution and trade marketing manager for Europe with SABMiller.

"In the past, 80% of the hops required were harvested from Romania. After the drought, only 50% of hop production comes from Romania, which means we have to import more raw material at much higher prices than in the past, which will show in the price of final products," says Weber.

However, he estimates the market of alcohol-free beer has significant growth potential over ...More Info

Denmark's Royal Unibrew AS said it has decided to close down production at its brewery in Aarhus in the fourth quarter 2008, as negotiations with affected employee groups have now resulted in an agreement, according to Thomson Financial, February 1.

The brewer said in January it was considering the close-down with an aim to strengthen future earnings.

As a result of the expected impairment losses, and due to deferral of closure costs to 2008, Royal Unibrew now sees a 2007 pre-tax profit at the lower end of 220-240 mln dkr; up from 200-220 mln dkr expected in January.

Unibrew reiterated its previous expectation that the closure will result in a positive EBIT impact of 20 mln dkr in 2010 onwards.

It added it will maintain an organisation in Aarhus with some 60 employees.

Almost 6 million hectoliters beer has been produced in Bulgaria in 2007, Newsbg reported January 30.

This makes 74 liters drunken beer per man, the Union of Brewers in Bulgaria (UBB) announced.

In 1993, the producing was little above 4 million hector liters.

Among the biggest producers are ‘Zagorka', ‘Kamenitsa' and ‘Carlsberg Bulgaria' companies.

Investments of UBB members in beer industry are 77.7 million BGN (39 million EUR) for 2007.

UBB has signed memorandums for cooperation with Federation of Consumers in Bulgaria.

They aim to prove high level of self-control, to habituate to moderate beer consumption and introducing of labels ‘Consume with pleasure and measure'.

UBB is approved as one of the first 11 brewery organizations from EU countries-members, presenting the brewery branch in front of European institutions.

The Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, announced the appointment of Ian White as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada reported in a press release, January 30. Mr. White has been appointed for a three-year term starting March 31, 2008.

"I am pleased that Mr. White has accepted the appointment of President and CEO of the CWB," said Minister Ritz. "With the strong support both this Government and the CWB have given Mr. White, I trust both will give him the freedom and the tools he will require to work in the interests of Western Canadian producers."

Mr. White’s appointment is fully supported by both the Government of Canada and the Canadian Wheat Board.

"The CWB, in conjunction with the government, engaged in a rigorous process and extensive search to find the best candidate for the position, and we are confident that Mr. White, with his comprehensive background and experience, will provide strong leadership to the corporation," said Ken Ritter, Chair of the Search Committee and the CWB Board of Directors.

Mr. White will provide strong leadership as the CWB faces a number of challenging issues, ...More Info

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that as of December 31, 2007, domestic barley stocks totalled 4.758 million tons, compared to 3.106 million on November 30, 2007.

The bulk of that was feed barley at 3.121 million tons, while malting barley accounted for 1.637 million tons.

Arja Laitila
Academic dissertation in Microbiology presented, with permission of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry of the University of Helsinki, for public criticism in the Auditorium of Helsinki University Museum Arppeanum, Snellmaninkatu 3, on the 31st of August 2007, at 12 o’clock noon.

Abstract
Malted barley (malt) is traditionally used in the production of beer and distilled spirits. In addition, it can be processed into ingredients for different areas of the food industry. Malting, the controlled germination of cereal grains, is a complex biological process involving a wide range of biochemical and physiological reactions. The diverse microbial communities naturally colonizing barley grains play a crucial role in this process. Therefore, the malting process can be considered as an ecosystem involving two metabolically active groups: the germinating grains and the diverse microbiota. It is evident that the multitude of microbes greatly influences the malting process as well as the quality of the final product. The main goal of this thesis was to study the relationships between microbes and the germinating grain during the malting process. Furthemore, this study provides a basis for tailoring of malt properties with natural, malt-derived microbes....

Keywords barley, malting, malt quality, bacteria, yeasts, filamentous fungi, microbiota, management, biocontrol
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