Castel

West Africa
After Abidjan, Castel loses Coca-Cola distribution rights in Ouagadougou

The Atlanta-based soft drinks giant has already severed its ties with Castel in Ivory Coast and a number of other African countries, and is now about to do the same in Burkina Faso.

The New Guard
Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, DRC, Ethiopia, Libya

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence reveals the next generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

SenegalMamadou Fall Kane, presidential oil adviser, branches out into mining

Guinea-BissauSaico Umaro Embaló, the president's nephew and Turkey envoy

DR CongoArthur Omar Kayumba, Tshisekedi's Grand Inga irritant

EthiopiaWintana Shimelis, in charge of the UK's Diageo in Addis

LibyaAhmed al-Sharkasi, the PM's low-key advisor

Cameroon
Castel management in limbo after truck accident death

Emmanuel de Tailly, the boss of Société Anonyme des Brasseries du Cameroun, a Castel Group subsidiary, has tendered his resignation after an accident involving one of the firm's vehicles that resulted in a death. But it is not expected to be accepted.

Nigeria
Ex-Glencore trader Anthony Stimler's bribery trial postponed for six months

The former executive at the Swiss trading house's West Africa bureau "continues to cooperate with the US government".

Ethiopia
Castel buys out Diageo to strengthen its position against Heineken

Two Castel production plants are under threat from the conflict in Tigray. Through its acquisition of Meta Abo Breweries, however, the French brewer has secured fresh production capacity, away from the fighting, and gained market share as it battles with its main competitor, Heineken.

Cameroon
Beer war breaks out on fringes of Africa Cup of Nations

UCB, the official drinks supplier of the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations, is threatening to take African football's governing body to court for breach of contract. The bone of contention is the presence of its rival Castel at fringe tournament venues.

Africa, France
Castel's 'annus horribilis' runs on as it misses out on Africa Cup of Nations partnership

Under threat of losing its Coca-Cola bottling licence in Madagascar, French group Castel has suffered another setback in West Africa by seeing its lucrative partnership with the African Football Confederation snatched by a competitor ahead of the 33rd African Cup of Nations.

Madagascar
Castel could lose Coca-Cola bottling licence

Castel offshoot Brasseries Star Madagascar's bottling licence with Coca Cola will expire in a few months but the US beverage company is hesitant to renew the deal, which could deprive Castel and its partner, the Malagasy state, of important revenues.

Central African Republic
Three firms at work to complete Castel's investigation into Sucaf RCA

Firms Gide Loyrette Nouel, ADIT and Mazars should complete the report commissioned by beverage giant Castel into its subsidiary Sucaf RCA by the end of the year. Sucaf was accused by the NGO The Sentry of funding the militia group UPC.

Cameroon
Castel launches corn processing plant to consolidate drinks market domination

Castel Group's SABC has launched the Compagnie Fermière du Cameroun, a subsidiary that specialises in grits production. This will enable it to secure its supply of one of the raw materials it needs to make beer and to consolidate its lead over its competitors.

Algeria
Agrifood: AfricInvest hungry for Sobco's Palmary biscuits

Now that it is no longer tied up in the struggling drinks firm NCA Rouiba, the Tunisian private equity company AfricInvest is keen for a slice of the fast-growing biscuit manufacturer Sobco.