DENMARK: Carlsberg confirms Budvar talks

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 18 January 2007

Carlsberg is in talks to distribute the flagship beer of Czech state-owned brewer Budejovicky Budvar.

The Danish brewing giant said today (18 January) that the brewers are in the middle of negotiations over a distribution deal.

Reports in the Czech newspaper Hospodarske Noviny said Carlsberg is looking to act as distributor for the Budvar brand in Scandinavia and Croatia.

However, a Carlsberg spokesman refused to comment on where the brewer would like to handle Budvar. "As the talks haven't come to a conclusion, we can't tell what the conclusion will be," the spokesman said.

A spokesman for Budvar confirmed that talks are taking place but declined to go into details about the negotiations.

Earlier this month, Budejovicky Budvar, signed a US import deal with long-time foe Anheuser-Busch. The two brewers have been fighting over the rights to the Budweiser trademark in countries around the world for almost a century.

In the US, where A-B owns the Budweiser name, Budvar's brand is sold as Czechvar. A similar arrangement would also be in place should Carlsberg become the brand's distributor in Scandinavia, where A-B also controls the Budweiser name.

Sectors: Beer & cider

Companies: Budvar, Carlsberg, Anheuser-Busch