E-Malt.com News article: United Kingdom: SABMiller to construct a global brewing research facility

SABMiller plc, world’s second-largest brewer, announced on July, 24 the commissioning of a £2 million global brewing research facility that will push the boundaries of conventional brewing technology.

The ground-breaking pilot brewery will be built in the UK, within Nottingham University's School of Biosciences, with the purpose of focusing on new technologies and processes that will enhance beer quality and shelf life, whilst improving the sustainability of brewing.

The research will test new raw materials and equipment and simulate extreme brewing conditions to challenge current methods of brewing to identify better, more efficient ways of making beer.

With a brewhouse capacity of 1,000 litres, its scale and design means that new processes and technologies can not only be developed but also rigorously tested before they are introduced at a commercial level.

SABMiller already has strong links with Nottingham University's School of Biosciences where it sponsors the Chair of Brewing Science, Professor Katherine Smart. The brewery will be run by SABMiller's research brewer, James van der Watt with additional research being carried out by PhD students from the University.

The construction due to start in March 20010 and it will take approximately 12 months to complete, SABMiller said.

SABMiller is one of the world's largest brewers with brewing interests and distribution agreements across six continents. The group's wide portfolio of brands includes premium international beers such as Grolsch, Miller Genuine Draft, Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Pilsner Urquell, as well as market-leading local brands such as Aguila, Castle, Miller Lite, Snow and Tyskie.

In the year ended 31 March 2009, the group reported US$3,405 million in adjusted pre-tax profit and group revenue of US$25,302 million. SABMiller is listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges.


24 July, 2009