Japanese beer market to consolidate further?
By Noah Davis • Jul 13th, 2009 • Category: Beer Companies
The (un?)holy union between Anheuser-Busch and InBev is so last year.
Two of Japan’s biggest food and drink, Suntory Holdings and Kirin Holdings, are considering a merger that would create a giant company larger than the entity formed when the American and Belgium breweries united last July.
According to Katsunori Tanaka, a Tokyo-based analyst for Goldman Sachs, the merger could be “a major improvement for beer and soft drink competitive conditions in Japan.” The two companies combined for roughly $41 billion in sales last year.
Kirin, which produces a beer of the same name, recently purchased Australia’s Lion Nathan and made a commitment to buy 43 percent of San Miguel Brewery for $1.4 billion.
How do you like them apples?
Fortunately, the world of Japanese craft beer is really starting to pick up with Ise Kadoya and Baird.