The giant food and drink group Nestle AG has said that its German unit will sell 51% of the beverage logistics groups Trinks GmbH Goslar and Trinks Sued GmbH Muenchen.

The sale is being made to a group of German brewers, which include Krombacher, Radeberger and Warsteiner Brauerei Haus Cramer KG. The deal is expected to be completed by January 2004, with a definitive contract signed this October.

Nestle Waters Deutschland's remaining stake of 46% will be further reduced in the coming years.

Trinks 2002 sales reached about €1 billion and the group distributed 1.3 billion litres of drinks.

The deal is subject to regulatory approval and will have no impact on jobs.