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Kirin Brewery Co.

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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.

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Earlier today, Heineken announced that it will purchase Kirin Holdings' Brazilian beer and soft drinks assets for just over US$705m. Here, just-drinks takes a closer look at Brazil's beer market and the rationale behind the deal.

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The Brazilian beer market may be able to claim Kirin Holdings as a victim in the coming weeks, but the likelihood of Heineken stepping in to buy Brasil Kirin offers cause for optimism not only for the Netherlands-based brewer specifically, but also for the country's beer category more broadly.

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The general intention of Japan's drinks companies to break out of their domestic market has been a headline of the last six years, at least. Today's confirmation that Kirin Holdings is looking to pull out of Brazil, however, shows the pitfalls of this strategy. Indeed, the fact that this is playing out in one of the fabled BRIC markets serves to bring the strategy into worrying relief.

Jorge Grosse has been CEO of González Byass since mid-2006. Earlier this year, just-drink editor Olly Wehring met him in London to discuss Sherry, casks and the firm's moves to diversify its portfolio.

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Last year, just-drinks travelled to the US to report on Diageo's investor conference. The subject of the presentations was the company's hopes and plans for the Latin America & Caribbean region. While there, just-drinks' managing editor, Olly Wehring sat down with regional president Randy Millian, to discuss the region, as well Diageo's distribution presence, the battle with brewers and the looming shadow of Brazil.

Japan's domestic beer shipments fell to a record low for the fifth first-half-year in a row, as all three segments of the category declined amid tax changes, according to local reports.

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Kirin Breweries' Australian unit, Lion, has hit back at claims its XXXX Brewery in Milton, Queensland is to close. 

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Carlsberg is to launch a range of small-batch beers in Lithuania through a fresh tie-up with Brooklyn Brewery.

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Kirin Breweries' Australian unit, Lion, is offering start-ups in the country AUD50,000 (US$38,000) to help uncover the next disruptive innovation in beer.

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Strong sales for non-alcoholic beer in Japan have prompted brewers to up production, according to a local report.

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Kirin's Australian craft beer brand, Little Creatures, is continuing its global expansion with a new distribution deal for the UK.

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Kirin's Australasian subsidiary, Lion, is to take its Little Creatures brand into China for the first time.

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Kirin Holdings is set to acquire a second brewer in Myanmar through a joint-venture with Myanma Economic Holdings, its partner in the Myanmar Brewery division.

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Heineken has successfully completed its recently-confirmed discussions with Kirin Holdings, with the European brewer set to acquire Kirin's Brazilian operations for almost half the price the Japanese firm paid in 2011.

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Kirin Holdings is on the hunt for "investment opportunities" across South-East Asia as it posted a lift in full-year sales and a return to profit in 2016.

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Domestic beer volumes in Japan fell by 3% last year as shipments from all five major brewers declined, according to local reports.

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Heineken has confirmed that it is in "ongoing" discussions with Kirin Holdings over the possible acquisition of the Japanese group's Brazilian brewing operations.

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Kirin's Australasian subsidiary, Lion, has said its decision to use disgraced former cyclist Lance Armstrong in a marketing campaign was to "highlight that actions have consequences".

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Lion is to sell its Australian premium wine business, Fine Wine Partners (FWP), to Accolade Wines.

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The CEO of Carlsberg has confirmed that the brewer will continue to strengthen its ties with Brooklyn Brewery in Europe, despite Kirin's recent purchase of a stake in the US company.

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Sapporo Holdings is keen to acquire Czech brewer Pilsner Urquell, its president has told just-drinks, but only if the unit is separated from Anheuser-Busch InBev's other former SABMiller assets.

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Kirin Holdings has agreed to sell one of its Brazilian production facilities to AmBev.

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Brooklyn Brewery has sold off a near-25% stake to Kirin Brewery Co, a year after saying it was not looking to make an equity sale.

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Kirin's Australian craft brewery, Little Creatures, has said it will release its Dog Days Summer Beer in cans in the country.

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Brooklyn Brewery has confirmed reports it is in talks with Kirin over a distribution and production deal in Japan but denied a deal has been signed.

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Heineken has declined to comment on a report it is on course to buy Kirin's Brazil operations.

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Kirin Group has reported an increase in H1 net profits as the company's Medium Term Business Plan began to kick in.