Japan: Heineken to dissolve joint venture with Kirin Brewery
Heineken will dissolve a joint venture of nearly four decades with Japan's Kirin Brewery, Nikkei has learned, with the Dutch beer maker deciding to fly solo in Japanese consumer sales starting next year.
Heineken will convert the joint venture, Heineken Kirin, into a wholly owned subsidiary. The name of the unit will be changed to Heineken Japan in April. Heineken controls 51% of the joint venture while Kirin owns the rest.
Under the joint venture, launched in 1984, Kirin handled sales of canned and bottled Heineken for the consumer market. Heineken will take over that role once the joint venture is dissolved.
Kirin will continue to brew beer and handle sales to commercial clients following the dissolution.
Heineken sold 690,000 cases of beer last year in Japan, with the consumer market accounting for 70% to 80% of the sales volume. Kirin plans to rework its relationship with Heineken and focus on boosting sales of craft beer.
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