InBev
InBev was a family owned businesss until 2000 when it become a publicly owned company trading on the Euronext stock exchange (Brussels). In 1987 the two largest breweries in Belgium merged: Artois and Piedboeuf this became the foundation of the company now known as InBev. Many other breweries, in countries from Canada and Russia to Hungary, were then acquired by the brewing giant. In 2000, InBev acquired Bass and Whitbread two large scale UK brewers. It was not until 2004 that the company officially became InBev when the merger between AmBev and Interbrew resulted in the creation of InBev. [1].
InBev is the world's largest brewer,[2] from its Belgium base 13.3 billion euro of profit was made in 2006. The brewer holds the number one or number two position in over 20 key markets – more than any other brewer. It has a key presence in both developed and developing markets, active in 7 out of the 10 of the fastest growing markets worldwide. InBev employs around 88,000 people across its six 'operational zones', which are: North America, Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America North, and Latin America South. [3]
Corporate Crimes
Price-fixing In April 2007 InBev were, along with Grolsch, Heineken and Bavaria, were found to be part of a price fixing cartel in Holand. All of the companies involved were fined £150 million by the European Commission, with the exception of InBev. At the time InBev was trading as Interbrew and managed to avoid the fine because the Commission felt that the firm had cooperated with the investigation, therefore, under the Commission's leniency programme such cooperation can lead to a reduced penalty or as in this case none at all. In 2001 InBev and Danone (then owners of Kronenbourg) were fined for operating another cartel in Belgium. [4].
InBev Scotland
InBev are one of the members of the Partnership Agreement: Scottish Executive and the Alcohol Industry, Rob Bruce is the primary representative for the firm within Scottish policy circles.
Affiliations
References
- ↑ InBev Company Website Our History Last accessed December 7th 2007
- ↑ Just Drinks Website InBev Last accessed December 17th 2007.
- ↑ InBew Company Website Our Company Last accessed December 7th 2007
- ↑ David Gow, The Guardian, April 18th 2007 Heineken and Grolsch Fined for Price-Fixing Last accessed December 17th 2007
