Sapporo Holdings

Why brewers should look to add distilling to their armoury - comment

27 Aug 2020

Category commentator Stephen Beaumont returns with his monthly fix of all things beer. Here Stephen considers the opportunity - and challenge - facing brewers who are thinking of entering the spirits arena.

Top US brewers in 2019 - data

2 Apr 2020

This week, US trade body The Brewers Association released its annual chart listing the largest brewers in the country in volume terms in 2019. Here is the top 50.

Responsible drinking activations around the world - The IARD Digest - July 2019

24 Jul 2019

Once a month, the drinks industry-funded International Alliance for Responsible Drinking, which covers alcohol policies worldwide, reviews some of the industry activities designed to promote a more responsible role for alcohol in society. Here's a look at what's been going on in recent weeks.

Sapporo's Sleeman Breweries to acquire Wild Rose Brewery

10 May 2019

Sapporo's Canadian unit, Sleeman Breweries, is to buy Wild Rose Brewery after shareholders have given the green light to an offer.

Wild Rose Brewery chases shareholder nod after Sapporo takeover bid

2 May 2019

Calgary's Wild Rose Brewery is urging its shareholders to greenlight an acquisition by Sleeman Breweries, the Canadian arm of Japan's Sapporo Breweries.

Sapporo USA drops out of US top 20 brewers list after tough 2018

13 Mar 2019

Sapporo's US unit has slipped down a list of the country's leading brewers amid trouble for its namesake brand and San Franciscan brewery Anchor.

Premium allure tempts Sapporo back to China with Anheuser-Busch InBev

20 Sep 2018

Sapporo Breweries has announced its pending return to China, partnering up with Anheuser-Busch InBev's operations in the country to handle distribution.

How sustainability could change the authenticity message for big beer - Comment

21 Mar 2018

Heritage, provenance and authenticity have become industry buzzwords: Marketing experts have us believe that they are the attributes consumers desire - and the attributes a brand should fudge at its peril. 

What's coming up in beer in 2018? - Predictions for the Year Ahead - Comment

23 Jan 2018

Our 2018 category previews continue. Here, beer industry commentator Stephen Beaumont shares his predictions on how the brewing world will weather the year ahead.

Anheuser-Busch InBev, Molson Coors see Ontario profits drop at The Beer Store

14 Aug 2017

Profits for The Beer Store, the Anheuser-Busch InBev and Molson Coors-owned retail chain in Ontario, fell by half last year amid changes in the Canadian province's monopoly laws.

Berry Bros & Rudd to retain Anchor Distilling Co stake after Sapporo split

7 Aug 2017

UK wine and spirits company Berry Bros & Rudd has said it will retain its interest in Anchor Distilling Co despite the agreed sale of sister company Anchor Brewing Co.

Sapporo Holdings buys 121-year-old Anchor Brewing Co

3 Aug 2017

Japanese brewer Sapporo Holdings is to expand its US footprint with the acquisition of San Francisco's Anchor Brewing Co.

Japan beer woes deepen as H1 shipments decline again - report

13 Jul 2017

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.

Sapporo set for more talks as Sleeman-Unibroue strike continues in Canada

21 Jun 2017

Fresh talks between Sapporo and workers at one of its Canadian factories have failed to resolve an ongoing strike.

Sapporo set for talks amid Sleeman Breweries strike

13 Jun 2017

Sapporo’s Canadian beer unit, Sleeman Breweries, has said it is seeking a quick end to a factory dispute after 80 workers went on strike.

Sapporo Breweries names new US president

2 May 2017

Japanese brewer Sapporo has appointed Yoshihito Kuzuhara as the new head of its US unit.

Is Japan's beer market coming back to life? - Comment

21 Feb 2017

The long-accepted truth for Japan's beer market is that domestic consumption is in long-term decline, forcing the country's brewers to look overseas for growth.

Beer growth gives 2016 boost to Sapporo Holdings - results

20 Feb 2017

Sapporo Holdings' renewed focus on beer is paying off as profits last year surged on the back of fresh domestic growth for its core lager brands.

Major brewers suffer as Japanese beer volumes continue decline - report

25 Jan 2017

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

The beer category in 2016 - just-drinks' Review of the Year, Part I

23 Dec 2016

As the end of the year approaches, just-drinks looks back at the stories that made the headlines in 2016 across the global drinks industry. Here, editor Olly Wehring picks out the highs and the lows for the beer category.

The season of Japanese goodwill as M&A premium hits home - Comment

19 Dec 2016

It is an established fact that, desperate for growth outside of their stagnant home market, Japanese companies have frequently had to pay a premium in global M&A.

"US brewers think about pricing, never about the beer" - Interview, Sapporo Holdings president Tsutomu Kamijo - Part II

24 Nov 2016

It is 40 years since Tsutomu Kamijo walked in the door at Sapporo, but he remembers it like it was yesterday.

"We are in the beer business, we're not in the banker business" - Interview, Sapporo Holdings president Tsutomu Kamijo - Part I

22 Nov 2016

Sapporo Holdings is one of Japan's biggest alcohol and soft drinks producers and the country's oldest brewer. This month, Andy Morton met with its president, Tsutomu Kamijo, to discuss why he'd like to get his hands on Anheuser-Busch InBev's Pilsner Urquell, the state of play in Vietnam and why even BrewDog's founder gets excited about Sapporo's beer.

Sapporo Holdings chases standalone Pilsner Urquell deal with Anheuser-Busch InBev - just-drinks EXCLUSIVE

7 Nov 2016

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.

ForEx hampers international, but Japan stays strong for Sapporo Holdings in year-to-date - results

4 Nov 2016

Sapporo Holdings has its domestic alcohol unit to thank for year-to-date figures that struggled with sliding sales overseas.

Sapporo Holdings targets overseas boost in new growth plan

3 Nov 2016

Sapporo Holdings aims to more than double its international profits by 2020 as part of ambitious new growth targets.

Sapporo’s Sapporo Premium Black - Product Launch

22 Aug 2016

Sapporo has lined up a US-specific dark lager under its namesake beer brand.

Will Asia's brewers lead beer's next consolidation wave? - Comment

10 May 2016

This month, we welcome a new beer commentator to just-drinks. In his first outing, Stephen Beaumont considers whether Asia's brewers are best placed to feast on the scraps from Anheuser-Busch InBev's table as it devours SABMiller.

Japan's beer market suffers as Kirin Brewery shipments slump - report

13 Apr 2016

A sharp decline in domestic sales for Kirin Brewery dragged down the Japanese beer market in the first quarter of the year as rival brewers posted growth, according to a report.

Beer goes on sale in Ontario grocery stores

16 Dec 2015

Consumers in Ontario are now allowed to buy beer from grocery stores, as the state government continues to relax alcohol monopoly laws.