Seeking to expand in North America, brewer Sapporo Holdings Ltd. plans to spend as much as ¥125 billion on acquisitions and partnerships over a four-year period.
The maker of Sapporo and Yebisu beer aims to expand in North America, Southeast Asia and Japan, where it can build on existing businesses, incoming President Tsutomu Kamijo said in an interview in Tokyo. "More and more wealthy people are emerging in Southeast Asia," he said. "There is no doubt Vietnam will expand."
Sapporo, which plans to spend the amount between 2012 and 2016, is joining domestic rivals who have turned to overseas markets as a shrinking population dims prospects at home. The 134-year-old firm agreed this month to raise its stake in Pokka Corp. to increase sales of nonalcoholic drinks and reduce reliance on alcoholic ones, which generate almost 80 percent of revenue.