Yunji Early News: CR Beer launches co-branded new product; Yanjing Beer receives share增持; 5 days until AIIC2026 opening

▎Ningbo’s European beer import value up 3.5% According to data released by Ningbo Customs on September 21, from January to August 2026, Ningbo port imported €10.7 million worth of European beer—a 3.5% year-on-year increase. Sources span traditional European beer-producing countries including Germany, France, and Belgium, and the range of imported varieties continues to expand. (Ningbo Customs) ▎Guyuelongshan participates in World Cleanup Day From September 19–21, 2026, the global flagship event for World Cleanup Day was held in Shaoxing, Zhejiang—the first time since the UN General Assembly established the observance that the global flagship event has taken place in China. Over 800 delegates from 52 countries and regions attended. Guyuelongshan was included in the core exhibition system for its practices such as “maximizing grain utilization for brewing and nourishment” and “storing grain in wine, storing grain in technology.” The company also showcased products and innovations at the Environmental Hygiene Expo and the Clean City Construction Achievements Exhibition. Additionally, it demonstrated green production outcomes including rice-washing water reuse, clean energy adoption, and resource recovery of spent grain. (Guyuelongshan) ▎Honey-sugarcane fruit wine daily output exceeds 20,000 bottles On September 20, Chengdu Chongxin Biotechnology Co., Ltd. officially launched mass production of its new coconut latte sugarcane-honey fruit wine, branded “Gan Le Wa.” With an alcohol content of 9% vol, the product is made from water, honey, sugarcane juice, coffee beans, and coconut flavor extract, fermented at low temperatures. Its current production line yields over 20,000 bottles per day. The company operates Sichuan Province’s first dedicated honey fruit wine production line and has developed 15 honey fruit wine variants. (Chengdu Chongxin Biotechnology Co., Ltd.) ▎Great Wall Bingqing Grape-Plum Wine launches September 23 On September 21, Great Wall Wine and Bingqing jointly launched a grape-plum wine. The product contains no less than 90% fruit juice, with an alcohol content of 7.5% vol and a 2.25L format equipped with an oxygen-barrier tap. Its formulation comprises no less than 81% wine base blended with no less than 14% fermented green plum wine; the plums are sourced from the 6,500-mu Xiling Plum Valley base. Full-fruit fermentation and earthenware jar aging techniques were employed. The product has been promoted on Douyin and Xiaohongshu and will officially launch on September 23 via the Dongfang Zhixuan livestream. (COFCO Great Wall Wine Co., Ltd.) ▎Spirits imports up 14.88% in first eight months Data released by China’s General Administration of Customs on September 20 shows that in August 2026, China imported 9.5763 million liters of spirits—down 4.18% year-on-year—with import value reaching US$150 million (≈RMB 1.07 billion), up 3.28% YoY; average import price stood at US$15.68 per liter, up 7.78% YoY. From January to August, total spirits imports amounted to approximately 61.2015 million liters—down 10.20% YoY—with import value totaling approx. US$1.152 billion (≈RMB 8.23 billion), up 14.88% YoY; average import price reached US$18.82 per liter, up 27.93% YoY. Among categories, both volume and value of whisky imports rose, while brandy import value edged up slightly. (General Administration of Customs) ▎Sazerac to acquire German distiller On September 21, U.S.-based spirits manufacturer Sazerac announced a proposed all-cash tender offer for German distiller Berentzen Group AG at €5.55 (≈US$6.37) per share. The acquisition plan has received support from Berentzen’s Supervisory Board and Executive Board. Berentzen previously confirmed it is in discussions with Sazerac regarding a potential acquisition.

Beer giants cut jobs and shut factories—can’t hold on anymore?

Recently, Heineken Group revealed in its 2025 financial report a seemingly paradoxical combination: resilient profitability on one hand, and workforce reductions and low-capacity brewery closures alongside lowered profit forecasts on the other. In reality, this juxtaposition sketches out the strategic trade-offs made by the world’s second-largest brewer amid an industry-wide downturn—and reflects broader challenges currently facing the global beer sector. The Truth Behind the Layoffs According to the report, Heineken’s 2025 net income under BEIA (before exceptional items and amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets) totaled €28.89 billion, representing organic growth of 1.6%; operating profit reached €4.385 billion, up 4.4% organically, with operating margin improving by 41 basis points to 15.2%; diluted earnings per share stood at €4.78, up 3.6% year-on-year. Against the backdrop of sluggish global consumer recovery, these figures underscore the company’s operational resilience. Yet this resilience does not stem from volume growth—but rather from dual levers: pricing strategy and cost control. The report indirectly reveals that Heineken’s net revenue per hectoliter rose 3.8% year-on-year, effectively offsetting pressure from declining sales volumes. Meanwhile, through a series of cost-optimization initiatives, the company achieved over €500 million in gross cost savings (pre-execution-cost deduction)—successfully countering persistent inflationary pressures. By contrast, Heineken’s global total beer volume declined 1.2% year-on-year: consolidated volume fell 2.1%, while only licensed volume grew 17.8%, indicating clear pressure on core proprietary business. Notably, in Q4 2025, Heineken’s beer volume dropped 1.7% YoY, and full-year volume declined 1.2%. In Europe—the company’s home market—full-year volume contracted sharply by 3.4%. Alongside its earnings release, Heineken announced two major initiatives drawing significant market attention: (1) global headcount reduction of 5,000–6,000 employees over the next two years; and (2) downward revision of its 2026 operating profit growth forecast to 2%–6%, substantially narrowing from last year’s projection of 4%–8%. This layoff scale represents roughly 5.6%–6.7% of Heineken’s global workforce of 89,000 employees and will be implemented gradually between 2026 and 2027 as part of structural realignment. Heineken pledged necessary support for affected employees, though specific regional or departmental details remain undisclosed. The layoffs likely stem from two primary drivers: First, slowing global beer demand—consumers in Europe and parts of Asia have grown increasingly rational, resulting in overall sluggish growth across the beer category in 2025. Second, operational efficiency optimization—including digitalization of supply chains, closure of some low-efficiency breweries, and expansion of its Global Business Services (HBS) centers—with an annual target of €400–500 million in cost savings. Founded in 1863, Heineken Group is the world’s second-largest brewer, with products sold in over 170 countries and regions. In China, Heineken has long pursued strategic cooperation with CR Beer. In 2025, its core brands performed strongly: Heineken® Original and Heineken® Silver (Heineken Star Silver) both achieved double-digit growth, while Amstel brand volume doubled—driven by high-profile sponsorships at premium events such as the Shanghai F1 Grand Prix and the Tennis Masters, as well as synergies with CR Beer in channel deployment.

Heineken Warns UK Pubs of Beer Sales Decline Amid Weight-Loss Drug Boom

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Heineken warned UK pubs that the surge in GLP-1 weight-loss drugs could reduce alcohol desire and beer sales. The brewer recommends promoting low-alcohol options as consumers adopt more purposeful drinking habits.

theguardian

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Heineken Warns UK Pubs of Beer Sales Decline Amid Weight-Loss Drug Boom

Heineken Warns UK Pubs of Beer Sales Decline Amid Weight-Loss Drug Boom

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