SAB: treading carefully on the dragon's tail

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Interbrew: tactics, tactics, tactics

SAB would be a good target for Interbrew, and the Belgian firm is highly likely to make more acquisitions soon. However, it would be a mistake to read too much into the rumors. Interbrew is likely to have made the leak on purpose, but it's too early to work out its intentions. Whatever they are, they're unlikely to be as the document says.

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SAB: unbottling Pilsner Urquell's potential

SAB hopes its new advertising campaign will push its Czech beer Pilsner Urquell into the top 10 best selling beers on the planet. This just might work: Pilsner Urquell has substantial brand strength in Europe, alongside a potent heritage. However, SAB's global plans for Pilsner Urquell would be more achievable if it acquired US brewer Miller.

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SAB/Miller: it's finally happened

After months of speculation over its role in global beer market consolidation, SAB has bought Philip Morris' US brewer Miller. The new company is the world's second largest brewer, producing nearly 12 billion liters of beer per annum. But whether SAB can reverse Miller's lackluster performance is another question.

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Mecca Cola: singing a different tune

Mecca Cola is in direct competition with Coca-cola, deliberately appealing to anti-US sentiments. This growing tendency for manufacturers to market themselves on a political positioning to take advantage of consumer concerns creates a loyal customer base that will not be easily swayed.

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Nestle/Danone: a formula for bad news

Selling formula baby milk to mothers in developing nations to replace breast milk has long been a touchy issue. As consumers become ever more suspicious of the motives of big business, some companies have allegedly still not mended their ways, courting bad press every time they reappear in the headlines.

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Coca-Cola: a risky return

The new Somalian bottling plant, which was opened this week, signifies Coca-Cola's [KO] first return to the war torn country after its original plant was destroyed in the civil war 15 years ago. Coca-Cola clearly believes that the African country is another emerging market where it can succeed despite initially unfavorable trading conditions.

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SAB: rugby defeat no barrier to rebranding

The loss of the rugby sponsorship comes just days after South African Breweries unveiled a major corporate rebranding exercise. The brewer is keen to stress its South African heritage, and will be sponsoring the 'Great South Africans' television program to reinforce this message. It should prove a shrewd move, compensating effectively for its rugby defeat.

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Cider and perry: Egyptian market set for fruitful growth

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Alcoholic drinks: South Africa feels the pull of the pint

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