AB InBev UK staff set to lose their jobs

AB InBev UK could see up to 140 staff made redundant following proposals to overhaul the business.

A spokeswoman for the brewer, which produces brands such as Beck's and Stella Artois, said a review of operations was designed to ensure "a sustainable future in a challenging economic environment".

She declined to say how many staff of a total of 1,400 employed by the brewer in the UK might lose their jobs, or the departments in which they worked.

However she confirmed that around 800 of the group's 8,000 European employees would lose their jobs as part of the brewer's overhaul. She would not comment on whether this could be read across to indicate 10 per cent of the UK workforce would be made redundant.

UK staff likely to be affected were told yesterday of the plan to implement changes, the spokeswoman said, and representatives will be appointed to speak for staff during the forthcoming 90-day consultation period, which could start as early as next week.

Meanwhile in Belgium, disgruntled staff held a number of AB InBev managers hostage over the redundancy plans.

According to press reports workers held 10 managers hostage for 11 hours, before releasing them after demanding to speak to someone at AB InBev's head office in Leuven.