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Heineken

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After a lacklustre Q1, Heineken finally got its year off and running with what many analysts described as an outstanding Q2.

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Today, Heineken reported a first-half jump in sales and volumes. Here, just-drinks takes a closer look at the group's performance in the six months to the end of June by region.

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This month, our former beverage analyst Ian Shackleton considers how best to grow your top-line, considers that the next round of results will throw up and looks at how his stock picks have performed so far.

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The pursuit of happiness may conjure up notions of carefree abandon, but it has become a serious business. Ben Cooper examines how positive psychology - a field of psychological study focused on happiness that has emerged over the past two decades - is in tune with key consumer trends and is proving an effective framework for new approaches to brand marketing.

Andy Thomas moved up to the CEO position at Craft Brew Alliance in 2014, following several years in the company's commercial operations. Previously, he spent 12 years at Heineken USA - the last two of which were as unit president. Thomas's experience in big brewing has proved useful at CBA, as the company moves to deepen its ties with major shareholder Anheuser-Busch InBev. In part one of this two-part interview, Thomas provides insight into the latest deal, which gives AB InBev a staggered, qualified offer option to acquire CBA.

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Last year, Heineken secured a return to the European sports stage for its Amstel brand. Having called time on its ten-year sponsorship of the UEFA Champions League football competition in 2005, Amstel has just completed the first of a three-year tie-up with the slightly lower-profile Europa League football tournament. Replacing Amstel as Champions League sponsor? Why, it was - and continues to be - brand Heineken. Last month, Olly Wehring travelled to Switzerland to meet Walter Drenth, the group's senior global director for international brands, before being forced to endure his team's defeat that evening to Seville in the Europa League final.

Heineken is expected to wrap up its acquisition of Punch Taverns pubs before the end of the month after it received the green light from UK authorities.

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Compania Cervecerias Unidas has enjoyed a strong start to 2017, with top-line growth hitting double digits in the first half of the year.

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Anheuser-Busch InBev is to create Russia's second-largest beer producer by combining its operations in the country with those of Turkey's Anadolu Efes.

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Heineken has gained a UK listing for its Cidrerie Stassen in a supermarket wine aisle.

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Heineken’s CEO has blamed the parallel market for a slump in Chinese beer volumes this year.

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Heineken has posted a solid lift in H1 sales as volumes increased in all of its regions.

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Heineken-owned Lagunitas Brewing Co has bought a minority stake in Michigan craft brewer Short's Brewing Co.

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Heineken's Americas Export division has appointed US Beverage (USB) to import several of its local brands to the US market. 

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Heineken's US unit has launched Artisanal Blend under its Strongbow hard cider brand. The new flavour is made with heirloom cider apple varieties, Heineken said. The cider is cold-pressed and semi-sweet. 

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Heineken has lost its appeal in Greece against a fine for "abusing its dominant position" in the country’s market, although the amount of the fine has been reduced.

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Heineken has signed a five-year sponsorship deal with the Ethiopian Athletics Federation through its Sofi Malt brand.

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Heineken has secured ‘beer partner’ status in Ireland for its namesake beer brand with a soon-to-be-opened stadium in the south of the country.

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Heineken has offered to sell some of the UK pubs it is set to acquire from Punch Taverns in a bid to appease regulators.

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Heineken has said its Tequila-flavoured beverage Desperados complies with all labelling regulations, after the body in charge of safeguarding Tequila's image reportedly accused the brand of misrepresenting the spirit.

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Heineken has become the first alcohol company to get its own Amazon Dash button in the UK.

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Heineken's UK unit has lined up new packs for its Old Mout cider brand, as it looks to cater for summer sharing occasions.

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Heineken has said it will work to satisfy UK concerns after competition authorities threatened a full investigation into its planned acquisition of Punch Taverns.

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Heineken and Molson Coors have signed an agreement that sees Molson Coors import, market and distribute Heineken's Sol brand in the US market. 

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Heineken has added new designs and three additional locations to its limited-edition aluminium bottles roll out.

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Heineken's UK unit has added reduced calorie beer brand Skinny Lager to its on-premise range in the market. 

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Heineken has opened a bar on the set of TV comedian James Corden's late night chat show in the US.

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Heineken is to roll out a GBP2m (US$2.6m) campaign for its Bulmers cider brand in the UK. 

Heineken is known for its flashy adverts. Now the brewer has given the star treatment to a new recruitment drive with a glamorous and highly-persuasive ad that, quite frankly, had the staff here at just-drinks dusting off their resumes.

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Here in the UK, we're coming to the end of a fine summer of cricket, with England having played against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in a number of matches around the country.