E-Malt.com Flash 26b. June 30

Russia: Heineken is to acquire Stepan Razin Brewery

Dutch brewing force, Heineken N/V, is close to confirming its purchase of St Petersburg-based brewery Stepan Razin for over $100 million...more info

South Africa: East African Breweries cross-lists on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange

East African Breweries Ltd, (EABL), the leading branded alcoholic drinks company in East Africa, officially cross- listed its shares...more info

USA: Breweries are fighting with beer crisis on holidays

US brewers are struggling as they mark Independence Day because more people are turning to wine and spirits. Anheuser-Busch and SABMiller's Miller Brewing, which cut prices at the end of May to boost demand, are struggling to spark U.S. beer sales heading into Independence Day.

John Faucher, an analyst at New York-based JPMorgan Chase & Co., said both companies sold less beer during the four-week period that ended June 11, which includes the Memorial Day holiday. He cited ACNielsen data.

St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch's volume fell 0.2 percent. Miller, owned by London-based SABMiller PLC, slid 1.8 %. Anheuser-Busch and SABMiller are vying to lift sales of beer during the summer season, partly by giving beer drinkers a price break.

Miller, the No. 2 U.S. brewer behind Anheuser-Busch, has vowed to cut prices further to keep pace with Anheuser-Busch. Miller Chief Executive Norman Adami vowed to follow suit. After Miller said it was "out-executed" over Memorial Day in the U.S., with its prices actually rising 1.2 percent, the company said it would lower prices further and begin running television ads promoting its beers as having more taste than Anheuser's. London-based SABMiller is the world's third-largest brewer. ...more info

United Kingdom: Jennings boost pub portfolio

Cumbria’s brewery and leased-pub operator Jennings has continued its ambitious expansion programme with the acquisition of two more pubs...more info

Germany: NicoShot – a newly launched nicotine beer

NicoShot beer contains 3 milligrams of nicotine alkaloids and is being billed as "the world's first smoking-cessation beer."

Manufacturer Nautilus GmbH Laboratoriumsbedarf said NicoShot is brewed like regular beer, with a tobacco-leaf extract added at the end of the brewing process. The firm is strongly playing up the beer's nicotine content to smokers.

"NicoShot is cigarette satisfaction in a beer without the smoke," according to a company press release. "For most smokers, three cans of NicoShot is comparable to an entire pack of conventional cigarettes. Best of all, there's none of the tar or carbon monoxide the comes from burning tobacco. Similar to nicotine gum, NicoShot is considered nicotine replacement therapy that provides a steady, controlled release of nicotine. It can be used to relieve withdrawal symptoms at the beginning of quitting, to relieve urges from cigarette smoke while quitting, or to avoid relapse months after quitting when a new stress or situation may trigger a strong urge to smoke."

Smokers can choose to drink the beer when they get a craving for a smoke while out at a bar, without having to go outside for a cigarette. "NicoShot is a smoking-cessation brew designed to satisfy the nicotine urge whenever you want a cigarette, but can't smoke -- providing a realistic way to quit smoking," said Richard H. Davis, president of Beverage Marketing USA, Inc.

Barley News

World: Barley outlook for crop 2005-2006

A further deterioration in crop prospects in the EU, especially in Spain, and a reduced estimate for Australia, despite June rains...more info

Hops News

New Zealand: Hops production in 2004

In 2004 New Zealand produced about 792.1 metric tonnes of hops from an area of 422 ha...more info