News: January 2010

Plans to cut 800 jobs across Europe have sparked major industrial unrest at AB-InBev, Belgium.

The world’s largest brewer is seeking to lay off workers as beer sales decline, with more than 250 posts at risk in Belgium. But the unions have responded by blockading the company’s Leuven brewery, home of Stella Artois and Leffe, and two other breweries, at Jupille-sur-Meuse and Hoegaarden.

Reports suggest that supplies of beer are running low as a consequence. British Stella drinkers should not be alarmed, however, as most Stella consumed in the UK is produced at AB-InBev’s Magor brewery, near Newport, South Wales.