E-Malt.com News article: 1584

Canada’s third largest brewery, Sleeman Breweries Ltd., announced on September 17 about its new deal to produce canned beer for worldwide distribution for Japanese Sapporo Breweries Ltd. starting next spring, The Canadian Press reported. The deal is expected to add eight cents a share to Sleeman's earnings in 2005. Under the agreement, Sleeman will produce 11 million cans annually of Sapporo beer in unique 650-millilitre silver cans after the expansion of Sleeman's facility in Guelph in southern Ontario.

Currently Sleeman produces bottled Sapporo for the United States, and 47.5 million cans a year of other brands of beer, such as Upper Canada and Old Milwaukee. "Working with Sapporo has enhanced our presence in the global brewing industry and is consistent with our growth strategy," John Sleeman, chairman and chief executive of Sleeman Breweries, said in a news release on September 16. "Since the signing of our initial contract in September 2002, Sleeman has achieved excellent results producing Sapporo products," Sadao Fukuda, president of Sapporo Breweries, said. "Sapporo has been the No. 1 selling Japanese beer in the U.S. for 18 years. By extending our agreement with Sleeman, we aim to make Sapporo one of the top 10 imported brands in North America."

Sleeman Breweries Ltd. is the third-largest brewing company in Canada, behind giants Labatt and Molson. Its brands include Okanagan Spring and Shaftebury in British Columbia and Alberta, Upper Canada in Ontario, Seigneuriale in Quebec and MacLays in Atlantic Canada. Sleeman also sells Stroh brands in Canada, as well as marketing and distributing imported products such as Guinness, Grolsch, Samuel Adams, Scottish & Newcastle, Pilsner Urquell and Strongbow Cider.


19 September, 2003