Since the end of the financial year we have announced that the choice has fallen on a
site at Zoeterwoude, near Leiden. It is intended to transfer production from
Rotterdam to the new brewery in 1974.
In the brewery at's Hertogenbosch a new brewhouse was added to the existing one
during the course of the year under review; the corresponding storage cellar capacity
will be completed in the first half of 1970.
Within the framework of the modernization programme of the Amstel Brewery at
Amsterdam, several important projects were completed during the year. 1
Amstel's new despatch building fully proved its utility during the extremely busy
summer season. Finally it should be mentioned that in the Amstel Brewery the
necessary steps are being taken to enlarge production capacity. This has become
particularly essential following the decision not to expand the establishment at
Helmond into a complete brewery, but to concentrate the production of Amstel
beer in the Netherlands at Amsterdam.
As a result of the reorganization in the technical sector we expect substantial im
provements in efficiency, for example in research, in central purchasing and in the
project design office.
The departments of the Technological Centre and Central Engineering have once
again performed numerous services on behalf of our Netherlands breweries and the
39 breweries associated with us abroad.
INTERNATIONAl
DIVISION
hxports
Exports of our two brands Heineken and Amstel have contributed satisfactorily
to the total increase in sales. The combined sales rose by 11% to 1,111,500 hecto
litres.
Nearly all our export markets shared in this growth of sales. The concern is now
by far the world's biggest exporter of Lager beer. Our share in Netherlands beer
exports rose to about 82 The exports represented an amount of more than 100 million
guilders.
The breakdown of exports in hectolitres for the past five years is shown below.
In this connection it should be noted that the figures for the financial year 1968/1969
comprise for the first time the joint export sales of Heineken and Amstel.
10
