Heineken and AB-InBev freeze investments in South Africa

South Africa | AB-InBev-owned SAB will no longer be investing ZAR 2.5 billion (USD 140 million) in its annual capital and infrastructure upgrade programme this year. Next year’s ZAR 2.5 billion capital expenditure is also under review.

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South Africa re-introduces alcohol ban

South Africa | To contain the spread of covid-19, the government has introduced new restrictions, including another ban on alcohol sales and a night-time curfew.

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South Africa eases lockdown

South Africa | Beer lovers will be euphoric: After nine weeks of near-total lockdown, alcohol sales were permitted on 2 June 2020 again, but for home consumption only, and under strict conditions on specified days and for limited hours.

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Breweries and wineries under lockdown in South Africa

South Africa | The nation entered into lockdown on 27 March 2020. All are expected to stay at home for three weeks while breweries are shut down.

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South Africa’s craft brewers fear covid-19 more than Big Brewers

South Africa | It came as a shock to craft brewers that as of 27 March 2020 they are not allowed to brew or to sell any beer for three weeks. Having suffered through the recession of 2019 already, it is feared that once the lockdown is lifted many will struggle to remain in business.

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Angola: Isabel Dos Santo’s brewery may be forced to close

Angola | Africa’s richest woman is in trouble, and so is her brewery. The local beer maker Sodiba may soon face insolvency, following the seizure of the assets of Ms Dos Santos and her husband, the company’s sole shareholders, Angolan media reported in February 2020.

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Nigeria is Heineken’s “painpoint”

Nigeria | Africa’s most populous country is a prime example as to how to bring a profitable beer market down. Since 2013, its beer profit pool has shrunk to less than a third of what it used to be. Only Nigerian Breweries (NB) is making any profit. The others must be loss-making.

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Outlook for Ethiopia’s beer market is less rosy

Ethiopia | Beer sales have more than doubled between 2014 and 2019: from 5.6 million hl to 13 million hl, says GlobalData. But last year’s blanket ban on alcohol advertising could hamper future growth. Not least, it will make it harder for new entrants to draw attention to themselves.

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Amid South Africa’s blackouts, AB-InBev goes for solar energy

South Africa | AB-InBev is installing solar panels at its South African breweries in a push to gain greater independence from the state-owned utility firm Eskom, which struggles with blackouts.

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AB-InBev closes SAB’s World of Beer museum in Johannesburg

South Africa | It’s a shame. SAB’s World of Beer museum is no more. Opened in Johannesburg in 1994, its last tour was conducted on 30 September 2019.

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