Bulgaria: InBev's subsidiary in Bulgaria to streamline brewing production

InBev S.A. announced on October 21 that its Bulgarian subsidiary will cease brewing operations in the Pleven brewery, one of its three Bulgarian breweries, on October 21, 2005, and transfer production to the remaining two breweries.

After an extensive review of its Bulgarian operations, which took over a year to conduct, InBev has decided to optimize its production activities by the end of 2005. The decision to transfer brewing and packaging operations to the two other sites is based on excess capacity, and on the disadvantages which this creates. The Pleven site will continue its production of malt; sales and distribution activities, as well as logistics operations, will also continue.

Ninety eight employees will be affected by the closure, and will be provided fair severance packages as well as support services.

As a result of the Pleven Brewery restructuring, new investments will be made, and new jobs will be created in both the Plovdiv and Haskovo breweries.

All necessary steps will be taken to ensure that the Pleven brewery production is transitioned to the rest of the Distribution centers network before the transfer of production assets takes place. The normal supply of stock to the market will also be secured. ...More Info

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Peru: SABMiller to buy remaining stake in Peru's Backus for USD 478 mln

The world's third-largest beer maker, SABMiller Plc, told reporters that it will make a bid for the voting shares of Peruvian brewery, Union de ...More Info

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Philippines: San Miguel registers 13 % rise in sales volume

San Miguel communicated that its beer sales outside the Philippines increased by 9 % year-on-year to USD 181.7 million in the eight months to ...More Info

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Canada: Sleeman Breweries lowered its outlook for the fiscal year 2005

Sleeman Breweries Ltd. announced on October 24 that the Company lowered its outlook for expected earnings per share excluding non-recurring items (“normalized earnings per ...More Info

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Russia: Beer production on rise but with slower growth rates

Russian breweries produced more beer in January-September 2005, they increased the beer output by 4.6% year-on-year to 69.4 million hl, The Russian Brewers' Union communicated on October 24 citing the Federal State Statistics Service.

According to the statement of Russian Brewers' Union, the beer production growth rates were higher in January-September 2004, when they stood at 12.9% year-on-year.

"The drop in beer production growth tempo was the result of restrictions on advertising that took effect in September 2004 in addition to the passing of the anticipated inflation level for excises on beer in 2005," the Union stated.

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USA: Main giant rivals fighting for Hispanic beer market

Anheuser-Busch the main rival of Miller Brewing, is intending to increase its marketing to Hispanics, about a year after Miller began a major push to conquer this market segment. Milwaukee Journal reported on October 25 that Anheuser-Busch, the brewer of Budweiser and Bud Lite, is increasing spending in its advertising to Hispanics by 66 %. The St. Louis-based company plans to spend $60 million on Hispanic media in 2006, about 11 % of its estimated $550 million total advertising budget in 2004.

The brewer Anheuser-Busch holds about a 50 % market share in the United States and is the top brewer in the Hispanic market through its 50 % ownership in Mexico City-based Grupo Modelo, which exports five brands, including Corona products, and is the exclusive importer and distributor of Anheuser-Busch's products in Mexico.

In an attempt to capture a larger share of the Hispanic market, Milwaukee-based Miller started a major marketing effort in late 2004 to reach that audience. Miller's efforts include an October 2004 advertising and marketing arrangement with Spanish-language broadcaster Univision Communications Inc., Los Angeles, worth more than $100 million; and sponsorship of a November 27, 2004, boxing match between super lightweights Marco Antonio Barrera and ...More Info

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Germany: Malt prices range for the barley crop of 2006

German analysts reported initial malt sales for the barley crop of 2006, for delivery in 2007. The reported price range from € 245.- to ...More Info

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EU: EU Grains Management Committee’s approvals for barley exports

The EU Grains Management Committee rejected all bids to export free market barley this week. They approved bids to export a total of ...More Info

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Ukraine: Overview on Ukrainian hop acreage

The Ukrainian hop acreage fell by 26% from 2003 to 2004. The reduction in acreage applied both to aroma hops and to bitter hops, ...More Info

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