Latest news with #JacobAarup-Andersen
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Carlsberg CEO: No-Alcohol Remains Highest Growing Segment
Carlsberg CEO, Jacob Aarup-Andersen joins Bloomberg's The Opening Trade to discuss the growth of the low and no-alcoholic drink market. He says there is as much growth of non-alcoholic beer across all generations, not just Gen Z. 'Moderation is a theme that's here to stay', Aarup-Andersen says. (Source: Bloomberg)
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Brewers confident of growth despite tariffs threat to sales
HighlightsEuropean beer makers, including Anheuser-Busch InBev, Heineken, and Carlsberg, remain optimistic about growth potential despite potential threats from U.S. tariffs. Anheuser-Busch InBev's finance chief, Fernando Tennenbaum, emphasized that local production helps the company navigate costs and tariffs without changing their outlook. Carlsberg has minimal U.S. exposure, relying more on growth in regions like Africa and Asia, while U.S.-focused rivals, such as Molson Coors, face more significant challenges due to tariffs. European beer makers remain confident about their growth potential despite U.S. tariffs posing some threat to sales and investors see the companies as a relatively safe haven in an intensifying global trade war. Brewers such as Anheuser-Busch InBev , Heineken and Carlsberg have been trying to restore margin expansion and boost volumes after a difficult few years, when surging costs led to higher prices, hurting sales volumes. Solid first-quarter earnings have bolstered hopes they can do so this year even as trade tensions rise. Brewers are relatively shielded from effects on costs, prices and consumer spending thanks to localised production and geographic spread, which should support growth, the companies and investors say. "We produce everything locally," AB InBev finance chief Fernando Tennenbaum told Reuters after the company reported a surge in first-quarter profit on Thursday. "We are not changing the outlook," he added, echoing Carlsberg CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen in saying the brewer had not seen any change in consumer behaviour as a result of tariffs so far. He described the impact of tariffs on aluminium, which may hurt AB InBev's can costs, as currently "not relevant". Brewers are not directly under fire in the same way as other industries like pharmaceuticals, said Tom Lemaigre, portfolio manager at beer investor Janus Henderson. While they could suffer if tariffs weaken economies, brewers' share performance indicated the market saw them as relatively protected, he said, adding: "That is probably a sensible assumption to make". GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGES Brewers' geographical footprints also offer some protection to any impact on consumers. Lea Seanz, portfolio manager at investor Flornoy Ferri, pointed out that AB InBev makes a hefty chunk of sales in Latin America, where it enjoys high pricing power and growing consumption, while easier comparative numbers should also support brewers' performance in 2025. "All in all, I think they should be able to compensate for tariffs in the U.S.," she said. Carlsberg has the least U.S. exposure, at less than 0.1% of total volumes. Both it and Heineken are more reliant on countries in regions like Africa and Asia for growth, though the trade war nevertheless threatens local economies there too. Carlsberg, AB InBev and Heineken all maintained their full year outlooks in recent weeks. U.S.-focused rivals like Molson Coors and Constellation Brands have been harder hit. Molson Coors' shares fell 8% on Thursday when the company cut its full-year sales guidance due to tariffs.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Carlsberg plans to add 2-3 breweries in India to grow market share: CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen
Carlsberg, the world's third largest brewer, plans to open up to three new breweries in India to bolster its supply chain capabilities in this growing market, said chief executive Jacob Aarup-Andersen . The maker of the eponymous brand and Tuborg currently has seven breweries in India. It recently committed '350 crore for a new facility in Mysuru , Karnataka. Through these initiatives, Carlsberg would seek to further grow its Indian market share from the current 25 per cent . It had an 18 per cent share just about two years ago. "We are in the process of finalising a number of supply chain projects at the moment. You would also expect to see more greenfield projects come on stream in the coming years in India," Aarup-Andersen said on a call with investors. "So, we are not sitting on our hands, and we would expect that in the coming years, you will see two to three new brewery additions in India." At six million hectoliters per year, India accounts for about 5 per cent of Carlsberg Group's total volume. One hectolitre is equivalent to 100 litres. India-a warm, tropical country with promising demographics and increasing affluence-is one of the world's largest beer markets. United Breweries , majority owned by Heineken, currently controls half of the Indian beer market. Carlsberg entered the Indian market in 2007 through a joint venture with Nepal-based Khetan Group though it was embroiled in a commercial conflict with its partner for the past several years. Last fiscal, the Danish brewer bought out Khetan Group's stake to currently own 100 per cent of the Indian venture and said it will step up investments in India-both in terms of capital spending, and sales and marketing. "We feel confident that we have the broad capacity we need in terms of the supply we get from-the capacity we get from our co-packer partners across the states. But we have historically had quarters where we've seen rapid demand increase in certain states where we didn't have the co-packer capabilities. And, of course, that can happen going forward," noted Aarup-Andersen. For alcobev products, India, in particular, offers very attractive growth opportunities supported by favourable demographics, with an estimated 800 million people of legal drinking age and around 20 million people entering this cohort every year. While not everyone consumes alcohol, there are still an estimated 140 million people in the beer-drinking population. Growing urbanisation, increasing penchant for dining out, and a rising share of women beer drinkers is driving this market. However, India remains a complicated market for companies to run operations. Alcohol sales are restricted. There are only around 90,000 outlets across India with permission to sell alcohol, and rules are set by individual states, resulting in varied market and tax structures, including import and export duties between states. The marketing of alcohol is also heavily regulated. India is also traditionally a spirits market with high alcohol by volume (ABV) products accounting for around two-thirds of alcohol consumption. However, the market is experiencing increasing popularity of low-alcohol products-mainly beer. The beer market is largely driven by strong beers, with around 80 per cent of market volumes comprising beer with ABV between 5 per cent and 8 per cent . Carlsberg sells strong beer brands Carlsberg Elephant and Tuborg Strong .
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Carlsberg plans to add 2-3 breweries in India to grow market share: CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen
Carlsberg, the world's third largest brewer, plans to open up to three new breweries in India to bolster its supply chain capabilities in this growing market, said chief executive Jacob Aarup-Andersen . #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Pakistan reopens Attari-Wagah border to allow stranded citizens in India to return Key Jammu & Kashmir reservoirs' flushing to begin soon Air India sees Pakistan airspace ban costing it $600 mn over 12 months The maker of the eponymous brand and Tuborg currently has seven breweries in India. It recently committed '350 crore for a new facility in Mysuru , Karnataka. Through these initiatives, Carlsberg would seek to further grow its Indian market share from the current 25%. It had an 18% share just about two years ago. "We are in the process of finalising a number of supply chain projects at the moment. You would also expect to see more greenfield projects come on stream in the coming years in India," Aarup-Andersen said on a call with investors. "So, we are not sitting on our hands, and we would expect that in the coming years, you will see two to three new brewery additions in India." At six million hectoliters per year, India accounts for about 5% of Carlsberg Group's total volume. One hectolitre is equivalent to 100 litres. India-a warm, tropical country with promising demographics and increasing affluence-is one of the world's largest beer markets. United Breweries , majority owned by Heineken, currently controls half of the Indian beer market. Carlsberg entered the Indian market in 2007 through a joint venture with Nepal-based Khetan Group though it was embroiled in a commercial conflict with its partner for the past several years. Last fiscal, the Danish brewer bought out Khetan Group's stake to currently own 100% of the Indian venture and said it will step up investments in India-both in terms of capital spending, and sales and marketing. "We feel confident that we have the broad capacity we need in terms of the supply we get from-the capacity we get from our co-packer partners across the states. But we have historically had quarters where we've seen rapid demand increase in certain states where we didn't have the co-packer capabilities. And, of course, that can happen going forward," noted Aarup-Andersen. For alcobev products, India, in particular, offers very attractive growth opportunities supported by favourable demographics, with an estimated 800 million people of legal drinking age and around 20 million people entering this cohort every year. While not everyone consumes alcohol, there are still an estimated 140 million people in the beer-drinking population. Growing urbanisation, increasing penchant for dining out, and a rising share of women beer drinkers is driving this market. However, India remains a complicated market for companies to run operations. Alcohol sales are restricted. There are only around 90,000 outlets across India with permission to sell alcohol, and rules are set by individual states, resulting in varied market and tax structures, including import and export duties between states. The marketing of alcohol is also heavily regulated. India is also traditionally a spirits market with high alcohol by volume (ABV) products accounting for around two-thirds of alcohol consumption. However, the market is experiencing increasing popularity of low-alcohol products-mainly beer. The beer market is largely driven by strong beers, with around 80% of market volumes comprising beer with ABV between 5% and 8%. Carlsberg sells strong beer brands Carlsberg Elephant and Tuborg Strong .
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Danes boycotting US products like Coca-Cola, Carlsberg says
Danish consumers are boycotting Coca-Cola, Carlsberg CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen said on Tuesday, adding the brewer, which bottles the drink in Denmark, had seen Coca-Cola volumes decline while local rivals gain share. The beermaker, which also sells Kronenbourg beer and soft drinks like Tuborg Soda, said its Coke volumes in Denmark were "slightly down" and that there is "a level of consumer boycott around U.S. brands". Consumers have ditched brands like Tesla, products like U.S. whiskey and U.S. travel plans in protest over U.S. tariffs, foreign policy or Elon Musk's political activities. In Denmark, some local brands were gaining share at the expense of U.S. labels like Coke, Aarup-Andersen told investors on its first quarter earnings call. Coke did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company is feeling the effects of a boycott of its brands from Hispanic consumers in the U.S. over video purportedly showing the company laying off its Latino staff and reporting them to immigration authorities, which Coke says is false. CEO James Quincey said it was focused on recovering from that boycott, which hit its business in the southern U.S. especially. Coke did not reference the boycott in Denmark during an earnings call with analysts on Tuesday. Danish alternatives to Coke include local label Jolly Cola. But Aarup-Andersen said both Coke and Pepsi, which Carlsberg also bottles, sold in Denmark were produced at Danish breweries by Danish workers. "So these are very much, from our perspective, Danish brands," he said, adding Carlsberg was not pro or contra boycotts and respected people's decisions. Carlsberg's overall soft drink portfolio in Denmark was up, and the hit to Coke was "not dramatic" in terms of overall volumes, Aarup-Andersen continued. The brewer warned on Tuesday that U.S. tariffs could affect both consumer spending and raw material costs going forward.
