/ 12 April 1999

GUINNESS DITCHES SAB

GUINNESS South Africa on Thursday announced Namibian Breweries will distribute and sell its Guinness and Kilkenny beer and draught in South Africa. The agreement, effective from May 1, when the current distribution deal with South African Breweries expires, is widely seen as an attempt by the Irish brewery to compete for the African beer market against SAB, which controls 98% of the SA market. Guinness South Africa MD Eamon Murphy said his brands grew rapidly in South Africa in the last few years and the agreement will enable this growth to continue.