Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd’s net profit fell 7.68% to RM21.78 mln for the third quarter ended Sept 30 compared with the previous corresponding period, The Star reported on November, 27.

Revenue came in 9.18% lower at RM242.09 mln.

The company said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia that the later Budget announcement this year compared with last year resulted in a shift in the trade stocking-up for the third quarter to the fourth quarter and had a significant impact on domestic beer sales.

Carlsberg said the lower net profit and revenue were partly mitigated by contributions from acquired subsidiary Luen Heng F&B Sdn Bhd and another associated company.

It expects higher domestic sales for the fourth quarter as a result of the later timing of the budget announcement coupled with the non-increase in the duties for beer and stout products.

Japanese beer giant Kirin Holdings Co. plans to invest roughly 23 billion yen to support beer production in Australia and New Zealand through its newly acquired Lion Nathan Ltd., ABN Newswire communicated on November, 25.

Kirin is looking to upgrade production lines at breweries in Sydney and Brisbane, and build a new brewery equipped with a warehouse in New Zealand at a cost of 16 billion yen, it is reported.

Guinness Anchor Bhd (GAB), Malaysia’s second-largest brewery, announced on November, 26 the results for the first quarter of its financial year 2010.

The brewer’s net income fell 43 per cent to RM26.7 million in the quarter ended 30 September 2009.

GAB posted 17.7% decline in revenue to RM300.9 mln while pre-tax profit dropped 43.4% to RM35.8 mln from a year ago.

“Given the later timing of the national budget announcement this year, we expected the first quarter to be lower than last year’s corresponding period,” managing director Charles Ireland said at a briefing on the company’s financial results.

“Overall our performance was slightly ahead of our internal forecast and we expect the full year to end satisfactorily. Sales volume are usually higher during the pre-budget period as people buy extra stock. As Budget 2010 was tabled in late October this year, the pre-budget speculative sales were in early October,” he said.

Ireland said GAB’s resilience in good and trying times was proven.

“We will continue to lead the domestic MLM (malt liquor market) with our unwavering focus on the company’s core philosophy of people, brands and performance to further consolidate our position as clear market leader,” he said.

He said GAB currently had a market share of ...More Info

Carlsberg, the world's fourth-biggest brewer, said it would scrap four brands in Germany and focus on the north of the country, where the market is less crowded, Reuters reported on November, 27.

The Danish company will scrap Feldschloesschen, Grenzquell, Lüneburger and Moravia out of its 27 brands in Germany, spokesman Jens Bekke said.

"In Germany, like in the rest of Europe, the beer market is steadily declining," Bekke said. "We do this in reaction to that falling trend and to make our business more efficient."

Bekke said Carlsberg would concentrate on five bigger brands in Germany - Astra, Carlsberg, Duckstein, Holsten and Lübzer - in the north. "The northern German market is what will be the main focus in future," he said.

Carlsberg, which has 500 brands in 150 markets around the world, generates roughly half of group sales and earnings in the mature western European market.

This month, it reported third-quarter group earnings that beat forecasts on the back of efficiency improvements but sales disappointed as demand dropped in its key Russian market.

The company said it expected shrinking markets amid the global economic downturn to be just as challenging next year, but it still saw Russia as a future growth market.

Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo is continuing its U.S. arbitration case against partner Anheuser-Busch, a process that could come to an end early next year, daily El Universal communicated on November, 25.

Modelo began arbitration against Budweiser maker Anheuser-Busch in October last year after the U.S. company was acquired by the Belgian InBev NV, a deal that created the world's largest beer brewer.

"Everything seems to suggest that the conclusion of this process will take place in early 2010," a business columnist in El Universal daily said, without naming sources.

Modelo says it was not consulted about the takeover of Anheuser-Busch, which owned 50 percent of Modelo.

The Mexican brewer wants $2.5 billion in the arbitration case, the now Anheuser-Busch InBev NV said in August.

Modelo also wants to stop Anheuser-Busch entities from exercising certain governance and other contractual rights, according to Anheuser-Busch InBev.

A spokeswoman for Modelo declined to comment.

Resolving the dispute could open the way to Anheuser-Busch InBev taking an increased stake in Modelo, maker of the popular Corona brand, analysts have said.

In January – October 2009, Belarus brewers produced 6.3% less beer than during the same period last year, Agro Perspectiva reported on November, 25.

Total beer production amounted to 2.89 mln hl in the first ten months of this year.

In October 2009 the nation’s beer output increased by 11.7% versus the same month in 2008.

In January – October this year, Krinitsa brewery’s share of the total beer production volume amounted to 43.2%, the share of Olivaria brewery – to 18.7%, that of Lidskoe Pivo brewery – to 14.2%.

The Canadian Wheat Board released on November, 26 its latest Pool Return Outlook (PRO) for the 2009-10 crop year.

Malting barley values remained unchanged from last month’s PRO, at C$208/tonne for two-row and at C$190/tonne for six-row malting barley.

Pool A feed barley is up C$7 at C$152 per tonne. The first Pool B feed barley PRO is announced at C$152 per tonne.

Overall market fundamentals remain weak, despite some strengthening in the past month, the CWB said.

The CWB commented: Malting barley prices moved slightly higher since the October PRO. Strong demand from China and the weak U.S. dollar have been supportive for global malting barley prices. However, moisture in the key producing regions in South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia has been supportive for the Australian barley crop. Australia is forecast to harvest a 7.8 million tonne crop, 1.8 million tonnes larger than last year, which should add some pressure to malting barley prices. Large stocks of malt and large malting barley supplies in the EU, Canada and Australia are more than sufficient to cover global malt demand, limiting price increases.

Global feed barley prices were higher this month. Black Sea feed barley prices remain the most competitive source of ...More Info

Malting barley needs from the crop 2009 seem to be fully covered, La Depeche communicated on November, 27.

As for the year 2010/11, EU’s malting barley market is still confused, waiting for more information on barley acreage, which might influence the prices level.

The activity thus remains very limited, industry participants report.

S. Porretta and G. Donadini

Abstract:
J. Inst. Brew. 114(4), 315–321, 2008 The aim of this paper is to understand the consumer’s attitude towards alcohol free beers in Italy by using a quantitative concept analysis. The method uses conjoint analysis with consumers of Italian beer, living in different geographical areas. Results show that packaging (RI = 56.24%) is the main attribute considered, followed by price, flavour, claims and colour. As far as part-worths are concerned, glass and twist-off caps are the utilities that most increase the preference. They are followed by malty and fruity characters, a price of less than 0.80 Euros, a remarkable body and intended for young adults. In contrast, plastics, a price of over 1.25 Euros, organic raw materials and imports showed the greatest negative impact on preference. These findings can be used as a base for new product development and for media communication purposes.
Key words: Conjoint analysis, consumer preference, no alcohol beer, quantitative concept analysis.
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