More than 3000 breweries in UK

United Kingdom | It is hard to believe, but more than 200 new breweries opened in the UK last year, despite the devastating impact of the coronavirus on Britain’s hospitality sector, according to new research by accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young.

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The longest case of beer – only in the UK

United Kingdom | At 2.3 metres in length, North Brewing Company, a brewery from Leeds, delivered the UK’s longest cases of lager on 12 March 2021. The case contained 99 cans with enough beer to fill a bathtub. The longpack of Springwell Pils is ideal for social distancing, the brewery said. It weighs more than 40 kg (88 lb), so it takes two people to deliver it in the company’s van – and probably two more to carry it inside punters’ homes.

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CAMRA – 50 years on

United Kingdom | Had it not been for the pandemic, the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) would have celebrated its 50th anniversary with a great number of live events. After all, it has created life-changing experiences for its 180000 members across the country.

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Heineken to replace Laurence Debroux as CFO

The Netherlands | Laurence Debroux’s appointment as Heineken’s Chief Financial Officer in 2014 sent out an important signal: The Dutch brewer was willing to hire an outsider and a woman to this important position. At the time, female CFOs were rare in Dutch multinationals.

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Doukeris to succeed Brito at AB-InBev?

Belgium | Belgian media seem to take it for granted that Michel Doukeris, 47, will succeed Carlos Brito, 60, as CEO of AB-InBev before the brewer’s next Annual General Meeting scheduled for 28 April 2021. How can they be so sure?

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Former Heineken CEO van Boxmeer received millions upon departure

The Netherlands | Media huffed and puffed over Jean-François van Boxmeer’s high severance payment, which he received from the brewer upon his departure.

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AB-InBev branches into beer-branded clothing

Belgium | Is this a new type of loungewear for our Zoom times or even AB-InBev’s new official dress code? Erve Europe, a textile group, signed a multi-year partnership with AB-InBev to launch a branded apparel collection in Europe in May 2021. The deal was brokered by IMG, a global merchandising company.

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Dutch court clears path for MTB’s claim against Heineken

The Netherlands | In its long-running legal spat with Heineken, Macedonian Thrace Brewery (MTB), best known for its Vergina beer, scored a victory: The Amsterdam Court of Appeal ruled on 16 February 2021 that MTB can pursue Heineken for damages in relation to anti-competitive practices and market abuse by its Greek subsidiary.

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AB InBev expects 2021 recovery as threat from pandemic recedes

Belgium | AB-InBev took a hit to revenue and volume sales in 2020, but expects a better outcome this year. The world’s major brewer, on 26 February 2021, reported a smaller hit to 2020 sales than expected and said it will see “meaningfully” better numbers this year as the pandemic begins to recede.

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Belgium’s on-premise sales of beer drop 50 percent in 2020

Belgium | What a shock: With bars and cafés being shut for almost six months in 2020, on-premise sales of beer fell 50 percent.

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Heineken slips to a loss in 2020

The Netherlands | The pandemic even brought Heineken to its knees. The world’s number two brewer reported a net loss of EUR 204 million (USD 248 million) for 2020, compared with a net profit of EUR 2.2 billion in 2019. Global beer sales dropped 8 percent organically to 222 million hl, the firm said on 10 February 2021.

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German beer consumption hit record low in 2020

Germany | The country’s 1500 breweries sold 87 million hl beer in 2020 – a decline of 5.5 percent over 2019, the Federal Statistical Office reported on 1 February 2021.

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Post-Brexit paperwork and extra costs hurt UK alcohol importers

United Kingdom | The UK has now been out of the EU for an entire month. One scenario – miles-long queues at the Channel Tunnel and the port of Dover – has not materialised, but the ripple effects of Brexit have touched many consumers and businesses in the UK.

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Carlsberg’s volumes down 3.6 percent in 2020

Denmark | Carlsberg’s 2020 results were affected by the significant impact of the pandemic on the beer market in general, and the on-trade in particular. Volumes sales declined 3.6 percent to 130 million hl, of which 20 million hl were non-beer, the firm said on 5 February 2021.

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Diageo’s sales fall in six months to December 2020

United Kingdom | The world’s major drinks company, Diageo, reported net sales of GBP 6.9 billion (USD 9.4 billion) in the six months to 31 December 2020, down 4.5 percent over the same period in 2019. According to Diageo, organic growth of 1 percent during the first half was offset by “unfavourable exchange rates”.

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When will pubs reopen in continental Europe?

Europe | As coronavirus cases spiral and highly contagious variants spread, European governments have prolonged lockdown measures.

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When will pubs reopen in the UK?

United Kingdom | Pubs could be shut for months to come, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed a third national shutdown on 6 January 2021.

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Thousands of UK bars and pubs closed in 2020

United Kingdom | Over the course of three nationwide lockdowns and various coronavirus restrictions, Britain lost around 6,000 pubs and licensed premises in 2020. This is nearly three times as many as in 2019, according to the Market Recovery Monitor by consultants CGA and business advisory firm AlixPartners.

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Russian beer market proved resilient despite covid-19

Russia | Brewer Anadolu Efes said that the Russian beer industry showed improvement during 2020, as the covid-19 related restrictions were relatively light during the summer months. But on the pricing side, competition was very high throughout the past year, which actually boosted volume growth.

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