IS CHINA GOING DUTCH?

The Chinese, it seems, enjoy their Dutch beer and Carlsberg is taking advantage of that. The Danish brewer operates 19 breweries in China and boasts strong market positions in Western China. But Carlsberg isn’t just selling their own beer; they’re getting into the Chinese brewing business too. The Carlsberg Group has acquired an additional 12.25% shares in Chongqing Brewery Co. Ltd, a Chinese brewing company, which makes Carlsberg the majority shareholder in the Chinese brewery, holding 29.71% stake. Since 2OO8, it has been in a relationship with both Chongqing Brewery Co. Ltd and its main shareholder, Chongqing Beer (Group) Co. Ltd, which currently holds 2O%. Chongqing Brewery operates 16 breweries in Chongqing and 28 branches as well as subsidiaries in the surrounding provinces of Sichuan, Hunan, Anhui, Zhejiang, Guizhou, Jiangsu, and Guangxi. The company, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets beer and wine.