The Japanese brewer, Sapporo Breweries Ltd., has posted that it is planning to change to a holding-company structure from the beginning of July, in a bid to speed up decision-making and make it easier for the company to form strategic business alliances. The changes will see the formation of a holding company, called Sapporo Holdings Ltd., which will have four subsidiaries: alcholic drinks, soft drinks, restaurant operations and real estate.

Tatsushi Iwama, currently president of Sapporo Breweries, will become president of Sapporo Holdings. The plan will be put to shareholders at a shareholders' meeting in March.

25 February, 2003