Input costs squeeze SABMiller’s margins

BEER brewer SABMiller yesterday warned that its margins were “constrained” by higher commodity costs and increased marketing spending after posting weaker-than-expected first-half beer volume figures in Europe and China.

But the firm – which owns Grolsh, Miller and Peroni – will become the second-biggest brewer in Russia after taking a stake in Turkish rival Anadolu Efes through a share swap.