Carlsberg accused of climbing in the toilet window!

John Dunsmore, the new Chief Executive of Scottish & Newcastle, has certainly been dreaming up some interesting things to say to the press during his 20 days in charge. He said of Carlsberg "instead of coming through the front door and bidding for BBH, they have crawled through the toilet window" and of the offer put in by Carlsberg/Heineken "my mother is putting a bid together at that level". Colourful language. Then the killer line... more S&N staff are to be 'consulted' as part of the 'outsourcing' of 3m hectolitres of brewing to Coors. Now who isn't using the front door?

Another independent brewer gobbled up

News today that SAB MIller of South Africa has bought, or at least will buy, the Dutch brewer Grolsch. This is another step in the global consolidation in brewing. SAB Miller are also rumoured to be interested in Scottish & Newcastle, although the Grolsch buy may quieten those rumours. And anyway, surely Carlsberg will do anything to get a hold of S&N's Russian interests (BBH) because, without that share, Carlsberg's growth options look very limited. S&N still look, therefore, more likely to be broken up than to be bought as a whole lot!

Scottish and Newcastle bid

The big news today is Carlsberg and Heineken forming a consortium to buy Scottish and Newcastle . We were invited to join too, but we would rather concentrate our efforts on quality craft beers. That and I don't speak Danish or Dutchish.

Despite Scottish and Newcastle turning their back on 'real ale' (to focus on Foster's, Kronenbourg, Strongbow, etc) they have been champions of small brands in the past and it will be a pity to see the UK's biggest brewer thrown into foreign hands.