NETHERLANDS: Heineken “will participate” in consolidation - CEO

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 30 November 2009

The head of Heineken has predicted that consolidation will continue in the global brewing industry going forward, and that the company "will participate".

Speaking to Dutch newspaper the Telegraaf this weekend, Heineken's CEO, Jean-François van Boxmeer, said that a quarter of the world's beer market will be acquired in the coming years by Anheuser-Busch InBev, Carlsberg, SABMiller and Heineken.

"That is the game that is going on, and we will participate," Van Boxmeer told the newspaper.

Heineken has been linked to talks with Fomento Economico Mexicano (FEMSA) in Mexico over FEMSA's plans to "explore opportunities" involving its beer business. The Netherlands-based company is the exclusive importer, marketer and seller of FEMSA's Dos Equis, Tecate, Tecate Light, Sol, Bohemia and Carta Blanca beer brands in the US.

Evenso, general opinion believes that SABMiller is in the driving seat for any acquisition of FEMSA's brewing arm, due in part to the strategic fit such a purchase would have with SAB's Bavaria beer operations in nearby Colombia.

Speculation has suggested that a sale of FEMSA Cerveza may cost as much as US$9bn.

Sectors: Beer & cider

Companies: Heineken, FEMSA, SABMiller, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Carlsberg, Bavaria