More Dutch stories?

Over the past couple of years in continental Europe, brewers have linked with makers of household appliances to develop and market products which allow beer drinkers to enjoy the taste of a glass of freshly-dispensed draught beer in the comfort of their own home. With some success, says the Dutch daily newspaper Algemeen Dagblad.

Heineken, which linked with Krups, has sold more than 150,000 of its 'BeerTender' system, the paper says, while Philips has sold 30,000 of its PerfectDraft systems - developed in conjunction with InBev - since October alone, prompting it to call on supplies from abroad.

PerfectDraft

  
Philips is now calling on consumers to return their empty vats to stores as soon as possible given that InBev is having difficulty in delivering full containers of its Jupiler and Dommelsch brands, due to the high demand. Heineken admits it has also had a similar problem.

BeerTender's history goes back to 2002 when Philips and Hieneken first began to work together on a joint system, Algemeen Dagblad says. Philips later pulled out, cauasing Heineken to continue with Krups. Philips later teamed up with InBev.

Heineken finds the Philips product far too similar to its own, Algemeen Dagblad says, and has sought to have sales if PerfectDraft forbidden by the courts. This was refused. It is not yet known whether Heineken will continue in its quest to get the Philips product taken off shelves.

To read this story for yourself, in Dutch, click on the link below (left) to see it as published on the Algemeen Dagblad website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the PerfectDraft website or here to visit BeerTender.