Heineken looks set to phase out its lower strength lager brand in the UK to introduce its 5% abv version as standard. The upcoming end of its long term licensing arrangement with Whitbread will allow Heineken to bring its lager into line with the version sold elsewhere, the lower abv version having suffered in the struggling market. Elsewhere, the company's foray into Belgium to purchase the abbey beer Affligem is being backed by an investment of Euros 1M for the next three years to double capacity to 180,000 hectolitres. Further afield, Heineken will retain its 15% stake in Argentine beer company, Quilmes, which produces under licence in Argentina. Brazilian giant Ambev has just taken control of Quilmes, which had been a Heineken target. In Brazil, Heineken now has a 20% stake in Kaiser, which holds 17% of the market.
