France: Job cuts and new investments at Scottish & Newcastle�s Kronenbourg brewery in Obernai

The Management of Scottish & Newcastle PLC's Kronenbourg brewery in Obernai, France announced the intention to cut a net 70 jobs through early retirement by 2007. Obernai currently employs 620 staff. The group will also invest 23 million Euro for the same period, AFX communicated on September 20.

An investment of 13 million Euro is to be spent on a new production line for conditioning limited-run beers for export principally, Vincent Rattez Kronenbourg spokesman said. The group will spend a further 10 million Euro fro the renovation of brewing facilities.

The French beer market declined in volume by 2.5 % from January to August in 2005.