Japan: Asahi strengthens its non-core operations
Japanese brewer Asahi will purchase Kanebo's soft drinks company for an undisclosed sum in order to offset the effects of weak domestic beer demand. Asahi and other Japanese brewers has been strengthening its non-core operations because of a shrinking domestic beer market
Asahi anticipates its soft-drink business, which is the contributor to brewers major earnings growth, to make up 17 % of its overall sales in 2005, up from 15 % last year.