Carlsberg Malawi plan huge job cuts after sale to Castel: Chikaonda puts positive spin
Castel Group of France which has agreed to buy 59 percent share of Danish brewer stake in Carlsberg Malawi Limited is set to make a number of job cuts as the company aims to secure sustainable and profitable growth for the future.
Danish brewer Carlsberg said on Wednesday the sale is in line with Carlsberg’s strategy to fully exploit and leverage its strengths while positioning itself for future growth.
Retrenchments
Nyasa Times understands that a French beverage company wants redundancies with an aim of creating long-term value to Carlsberg Malawi an associated company with dual-listed conglomerate Press Corporation Limited (PCL).
While the exact number hasn’t been revealed, cuts are expected through the brewer to impact up to 10 percent of the workforce.
Several longtime company executives could be affected.
Powerful signal
Carlsberg Malawi chairperson, Mathews Chikaonda, who is also out going Press Corp CEO said the transaction is in line with Carlsberg Group’s new strategy to “fully exploit and leverage its strengths while positioning itself for future growth.”
Chikaonda said Castel Group will continue to produce Carlsberg beers to the people of Malawi.
He said the consumer market will not notice any change for the next 10 years as the portfolio will remain the same.
Carlsberg did not disclose financial details but Chikaonda said Press Corp will remain “a significant shareholder” in Carlsberg Malawi.
Chikaonda said the move by Castle to buy shares in Carlsberg “sends a powerful signal that Malawi is still a good investment destination.”
He said: “Given Castle’s extensive etwork in Africa, the move by Castle into Malawi provides Cralsberg Malawi great potential toe xport into neighbouring countries and beyond thereby affording Malawi the much-needed opportunity to diversity its foreign echange earning base.”
Chikaonda added: “ The Castle Group should be welcomed with open arms as it is hard to imagine what would have happened if there was no buyer for the hsares of Cralsberg Brewries A/S.”
Family affair
According to the Castel Group website, the company was founded in Bordeaux in 1949 by a family of 9 brothers and sisters. For over 60 years they have devoted their energy and skills to spreading the word about French wines throughout the world, and developing the beer and soft drinks sector in Africa.
The family have had their fair share of triumphs. Under the guiding hand of founding President Pierre Castel the Group has become the largest wine producer in France and Europe, and the second largest beer and soft drinks business in Africa
Castel is an internationally recognised name, backed up by a range of acclaimed brands and Châteaux, and with an established presence in over 130 countries.
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Why does not Malawi come up with its own brewery company? Why always wait for foreign investors? Malawi will never stop to amaze me. Many companies have their own brewery companies. After all its Malawians who drink beer, so why wait for a foreign company to make it for you. Sick country!
Chikaonda OUR man – he got an intact Press but has sold everything there. No new investiments, just selling. Given a chance he would sell National Bank (just allow him more time at Press and c the damage he will do). And some one says he is Presidential material – bolani Njovuyalema sure!
A Chikaonda sopano. Yawo ija!!!. LOL As the journey continues before Chikaonda quits. Carleberg is sold. Jobs will be lost. Press will not hold majority shares. The carlsberg brand will soon disappear( May be after 10 years). And then, and then the plant will be a white elephant. Just like its neighbour B&C. That will be another Chikaonda’s legacy of closing companies). By the way, why did he give up the 10% shares just before the sale of Carlsberg Malawi? Was it to allow the new company to get majority shares? Can someone explain.
Malawi sadzatheka chilichonse ma foreign investors ma profit amakasunga kwao
O…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..O “Twenty years from now, you will be more dissapointed by the things you did not do, than the ones you did do.” – Mark Twain (on the need to take action). . . . Truth is, it is times like these, that people sober-up and realise the need for making savings and investments (while employed). Its just sad to hear people citing meagre salary as a reason for their failure to save for investment, and yet they always save for such luxuries as women, beer n other pleasures. . . . You see, “Wealth, like a tree, grows from… Read more »
Aah Mr Analyst if an act satisfies a want its ok. We have saved and gotten rich from our salary bambo and we are not in trouble at all. I have 100 kabazas and aa a happy dude married to 5 beautiful women who have given me 150 children. Ichi bambo ndicho chuma changa. Byebye Analyst let Carlberg retrench me i dont care because already an a disengaged employee “I go to work but am retired Sir”.
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Richman, you are wise to reaslise the importance of making savings and investments and you are even wiser to have acted on your realisation. Coz although many of us know the importance of making savings and investments, (no matter how little); not many of us manage to act (because of so many reasons and circumstances). Kudos!
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Very True
Ameneyo ndiye Chikaonda ndimadziwa ine, the liquidator of Companies!
Tsono asikanawa chokhalira maliseche ndi zikukhuzana??????
Inde. Mowa, Maliseche, Chiwerewere, ndi zoipa zina zonse wolamulira ndi m’modzi – Satana.
Pali wavuta apa?