BELGIUM: InBev aims to revive sales in Western Europe

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 26 April 2006

InBev CEO Carlos Brito has said that the company is focusing on boosting sales in Western Europe after a year of declining volumes.

"In Western Europe, the performance (last year) was not good. We have set the bar much higher for this year," Brito told reporters after the company's annual shareholder meeting yesterday (25 April).

Volumes in the region fell 1.4% last year, hit by falling sales in the UK and Germany. Brito said InBev would look to ramp up marketing investment and look to more closely identify with the needs of beer consumers in Western Europe.

InBev plans to axe jobs from its operations in Belgium and France, and intends to merge its finance, procurement and export functions in Europe at a cost of 360 jobs. Brito said there were no plans for the moment for further job losses.

The world's largest brewer by volume also announced yesterday a gross dividend of EUR0.48 (US$0.59) to be paid from today.

Sectors: Beer & cider

Companies: InBev