World News
on federal tax policy,” BI president and CEO Jim McGreevy
said in an email. 1
Further information www.beerinstitute.org
Japan
Kirin's biotechnology
ventures
United Kingdom
Small Beer smashes funding
target, ramps up brewing
Small Beer has smashed its £300,000 target on crowdfunding
platform Crowdcube, having raised nearly
£700,000 from 583 investors at the time of writing.
The company describes itself as the “world’s first brewery
dedicated to classic beer styles below 2.8%,” and
has found its way onto store shelves.
The brewer plans to invest in its supply capacity, to keep
pace with the continuing – and surging – popularity of
low-and no-alcohol expressions.
“We’ve found consumers are starting to approach
stocking up on Small Beer in much in the same way they
would with other fridge staples,” said co-founder James
Grundy, per The Grocer.
“Our customers like to have their Small Beer close to
hand for when they’re looking to punctuate the end of
the working day. This insight has been behind our positioning
as ‘your midweek essential’ and has been a significant
growth driver for us to sit alongside the many
other occasions to enjoy a Small Beer.”
Grundy indicated that the company plans to double its
onsite brewing capacity to keep up with demand, alongside
the expansion of its export arm into more overseas
markets. 1
USA
Annie Starke Beer Institute's
Senior Director Federal Affairs
Most recently, Annie Starke worked as an associate and
policy advisor at the Washington, D.C.-based law firm, Brownstein
Hyatt Farber Schreck, where she “worked extensively
Annie Starke,
Senior Director of
Federal Affairs,
Beer Institute
Kirin Holdings Co. announced last month that it would
be selling its stake in a beverage venture it formed
with China Resources Holdings Co. for ¥115 billion
(just shy of US$1 billion) as it shifts its focus to food,
health and pharmaceuticals.
The Japanese brewer was set to gain around ¥39 billion
from the sale of its 40% stake to Plateau Consumer Ltd.,
an investment fund based in the Cayman Islands, it was
announced.
The company now hopes to use the technology of the
beer-making process in its biotech ventures.
“We want to turn Kirin into a fermentation biotechnology
company. We need to grow a new business while
the beer segment is still healthy,” Isozaki said.
Kirin unveiled a three-year business plan last month, in
which ¥100 billion will be invested in research and development
and to expand factories in the health science
and pharmaceutical sectors. A further ¥80 billion
will be spent on in its beer and beverage business.
As part of the shift away from beer and into pharmaceuticals,
Kirin will increase production of Citicoline, a
memory improving supplement. A new manufacturing
facility for the product is set to be up and running by
2023.
Kirin is among Japan’s top beer brands. It also owns
Four Roses Distillery in the US and San Miguel Brewery
in the Philippines.
Kirin Brewing Company recently released Four Roses
Small Batch Select Bourbon into the UK, a whole two
years after its US launch. 1
Further information: www.kirinholdings.com
Further information: www.theoriginalsmallbeer.com
6 BREWING AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY · 2/2022
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