Sapporo seeks beer deals abroad to catch up with Japan rivals

Tokyo

SAPPORO Holdings Ltd is searching for deals in North America's mature beer-drinking market and fast-growing economies in South-east Asia, as Japan's fourth-largest brewer seeks to catch up with bigger local rivals such as Asahi Group Holdings and Kirin Holdings Co.

"There's a lot of room for us to grow overseas, and both North America and South-east Asia are very promising markets for our alcohol business," Masaki Oga, who will be promoted to become Tokyo-based Sapporo's president on Jan 1, said in an interview. The brewer would consider mergers and acquisitions "if such opportunities emerge".