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Diageo to expand US RTD operations as Heineken launches Pure Piraña hard seltzer across Europe

Mar 22, 2021Mar 22, 2021 Editor

US – UK-based alcoholic beverages giant Diageo is expanding its US ready-to-drink (RTD) operations as part of efforts to support its growth strategy in the rapidly expanding category. Consiquently, Diageo’s new Plainfield, Illinois site will be expanded to a tune of US$80 million. According to a statement from Diageo, the expansion project will include the installation of two high-speed can lines with the capacity to produce over 25 million cases of RTDs per year. Products to be produced at the Plainfield site include Smirnoff seltzers and Diageo’s newly-launched spirits-based RTD…

Heineken appoints Harold van den Broek to succeed Laurence Debroux as CFO

Mar 11, 2021Mar 11, 2021 Editor

NETHERLANDS – Dutch multinational brewing company Heineken has appointed career finance expert Harold van den Broek to be the company’s new Chief Finance Officer . Harold will be succeeding Laurence Debroux who will be stepping down as the brewing giant’s CFO, after the company’s annual general meeting of shareholders (AGM) on 22 April 2021. As she departs, Debroux had a successful 6 year stint at the multinational brewer. She played a key role in steering the company through the Covid-19 crisis and shaping EverGreen- Heineken’s strategic direction exploring how to…

Coca-Cola System Brazil to produce alcoholic beverages in new partnership with Heineken

Feb 28, 2021Feb 28, 2021 Editor

BRAZIL – The Coca-Cola system in Brazil will produce and distribute alcoholic beverages beers in HEINEKEN’s portfolio as from Mid-2021. This is part of a recent redesign of a longstanding distribution partnership between Heineken, The Coca-Cola Company, and the Coca-Cola system in Brazil. Heineken in a statement said that the Agreement marks a new milestone in the relationship among the companies. The agreement, according to the brewing major, allows the parties to better serve consumers and customers in the Brazilian market with a solid portfolio, building on the positive momentum…

Heineken full year profits dip 35.6% prompting 8,000 job cuts globally

Feb 11, 2021Feb 11, 2021 Editor

NETHERLANDS –Dutch multinational brewing company, Heineken has reported a full-year operating profit of €2.42 billion (about US$2.93 billion), representing an organic decrease of 35.6% . As the pandemic took its toll on the company’s global business ,the Dutch brewer said that sales in all regions declined causing its 2020 net revenue fall by 11.9% to €19.72 billion (about US$23.91 billion. Loss in operating profit was in particular driven by performance in Europe – due to on-trade closures – Mexico, South Africa and Indonesia. Operations in Mexico were suspended throughout most…

Heineken extends dominance in Nigeria’s beer market by raising stake in Champion Breweries to 84.7%

Feb 4, 2021Feb 4, 2021 Editor

NIGERIA – Multinational brewing company Heineken has raised its ownership in Champion Breweries with acquisition of 1,903,609,538 ordinary shares at a price of N2.6 per share through its wholly owned subsidiary, Raysun Nigeria Limited. The recent acquisition of shares worth N4.959 billion (US$12.5m), representing 24.3% stake in the local brewery has raised the ownership of Raysun to 84.7%, giving it a leverage to launch a takeover bid. This was revealed in a filing to the Nigerian Stock Exchange on January 7th, 2021. The transaction will help broaden Heineken’s dominance beyond…

SA booze ban forces Heineken to cut workforce by 7%

Jan 20, 2021Jan 20, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – Heineken SA has announced that it will trim its workforce by 7% in 2021 necessitated by the tough trading environment brought by the alcohol ban. The brewer says given the continued market pressure in South Africa, it became necessary to restructure its operations and reverse some of the effects of COVID-19 pandemic. The Netherlands-based company, whose brands include Windhoek, Amstel and Soweto Gold, employs 1 000 people at in its South Africa operations, and with the 7% cuts it means 70 people will be rendered jobless. “In…

Heineken expands zero alcohol beer portfolio with launch of Desperados Virgin 0.0%

Jan 13, 2021 Editor

NETHERLANDS – Dutch multinational brewing company Heineken has expanded its portfolio of zero alcohol beers with the global launch of Desperados Virgin 0.0%. The global roll out follows a successful release of the Desperados alcohol-free alternative in France last year. Desperados Virgin 0.0% is also coming to the market close to two year after the Dutch brewing company launched Heineken O.O as the first non-alcoholic beer bearing the company’s signature brand’s name Desperados Virgin 0.0% will initially be available in the Netherlands and Poland this month, followed by Belgium in…

SA’s beer industry crosses fingers that the alcohol ban won’t prolong beyond mid-January

Jan 7, 2021Jan 7, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – It’s just days after the government of South Africa reinstated the ban on alcohol sales that the industry players have already started feeling the pinch brought by the move. The Beer Association of South Africa (BASA) has called for the lift of the renewed ban, saying small craft brewers would not survive if it was extended beyond mid-January. The prohibition, designed in part to ease the burden on hospitals from vehicle accidents and drinking-related violence, was implemented nationwide on December 29. However, this being the third ban…

Amstel celebrates 150-year anniversary with expansion to China

Dec 3, 2020Dec 3, 2020 Editor

NETHERLANDS – Popular Dutch beer, Amstel is celebrating 150 years of existence this year with a mile stone expansion into the world’s largest beer market, China. The premium pilsner produced by Heineken is currently enjoyed in 116 countries around the globe and will be available in select provinces across Southern and Eastern China before the end of the year. Amstel is currently a leading global top 10 beer brand, with Heineken expecting China to become one of the brand’s top markets globally in the next three years. The move to…

Heineken opposes US$16m compensation bill to Kenyan alcohol distribution firm Maxam Ltd

Nov 3, 2020Nov 3, 2020 Editor

KENYA – Heineken, Dutch beer marker has challenged the Kenyan High Court’s decision of slapping it with a Ksh. 1.79 billion (US$16m) compensation bill, for terminating a distributorship agreement with Maxam Ltd firm. In the appeal pending before the Court of Appeal, Heineken East Africa Import Company Ltd and Heineken International B.V. said it was dissatisfied with the High Court’s decision issued in July last year, reports Business Daily. “The learned judge erred by holding that the appellants constructively terminated the distribution agreement by appointing additional distributors despite injunctive orders.”…