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SABMiller takes the top spot
Provisional figures published by Plato Logic indicate there has been a major shake up in the ranking of the world’s biggest brewers. According to the research agency, SABMiller has leapfrogged InBev into first place, while Heineken has displaced Anheuser Busch as the number three producer. Plato Logic reports that the global beer market grew 5% last year to 1,767 million hectolitres.
The success of the South African owned company has been attributed to its impressive performance in China – where it produces the popular Snow brand – as well as its takeover of Grolsch. Dutch giant Heineken, meanwhile, has overtaken US powerhouse Anheuser Busch having snapped up Scottish & Newcastle in conjunction with Carlsberg.
The growing importance of China within the global beer business is underscored by the presence of two of the country’s domestic brewers in the top ten. Yanjing Brewery entered the chart for the first time as the world’s ninth biggest volume producer, just behind fellow Chinese firm Tsingtao. Plato Logic has stated that this evolution in the sector is subject to the S&N and Grolsch deals being approved.
Ben Grant, 06/02/08