Ireland: Heineken starts a beer brawl over pricing

Dutch beer brewer Heineken has launched a pricing conflict with one of the UK’s largest pub chains regarding the cost of Heineken products within the Republic of Ireland.

Reports say pub chain Wetherspoons announced Tuesday it is no longer selling Heineken at its 926 properties throughout the UK. The move, the company says, is in response to the brewer’s refusal to supply products to Wetherspoon-owned bar Forty Foot in Ireland.

According to reports, the episode is part of a broader dispute in which Heineken and peer Diageo, both the leading brewers in Ireland, are looking to curb the dominance of Wetherspoon’s in the nation for fear the bar chain will force beer price cuts.

Reports say Heineken is concerned the cost of a pint of beer in Ireland could be cut nearly in half if Wetherspoon’s gets its way.

Wetherspoon’s has launched a new acquisition spree in Ireland as it looks to tap into a lucrative beer market. The company recently acquired 30 pubs in Ireland and refurbished all locations with lower beer prices.

Full content: ABC News

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