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Heineken

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Amid all the furore each time another craft brewer joins the other side, beer commentator Stephen Beaumont explores the strategy behind the larger players' forays in the segment.

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Earlier today, Heineken reported a 0.6% increase in sales from the brewer's first quarter. Here, just-drinks takes a closer look at the group's performance in the three months to the end of March by region.

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Having focused (virtually) on Brazil in his last piece, this month our correspondent Ian Shackleton travels to Asia. Here, the former analyst shares a few thoughts on how the region might take on the West when it comes to beverages.

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In his latest commentary for just-drinks, former drinks analyst Ian Shackleton heads to Brazil to look at 3G's burned fingers, the future worries for Anheuser-Busch InBev and Britvic's samba moves.

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'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. 

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Heineken's UK unit has launched a music TV show under its Red Stripe brand as it looks to reaffirm the Jamaican lager's association with music. 

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Heineken's former US marketing head, Christian McMahan, has been appointed president of Massachusetts brewer Wachusett Brewing Co.

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Nigerian Breweries has appointed Johan Antonie Doyer to the role of interim CEO after the previous incumbent resigned to take up a new position within the Heineken group.

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The head of Carlsberg has flagged that a decision from the Vietnamese Government on the future of takeover target Hanoi Beer Alcohol & Beverage Corp (Habeco) is in the offing.

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Heineken is backing a new global TV ad for its namesake lager with limited-edition packs.

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The Portman Group has recruited the head of EU & international government relations at Tesco to become its next CEO.

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Heineken's UK unit has lined up a GBP5m (US$6.4m) campaign for its New Zealand cider brand. 

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.