Australia: Australia’s competition watchdog has approved SABMiller’s A$10bn bid for Foster’s Group. “The proposed acquisition is not likely to result in a substantial lessening of competition for the supply of beer,” said Rod Sims, chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The deal still requires the approval of the Foreign Review Investment Board and Foster’s shareholders.

China: AB InBev has teamed up with GE to improve water and energy efficiency at its breweries in China. The global brewer is hoping the deal will help the company beat its 2012 target of reducing the global water-to-beer ratio to 3.5 from 4.04 in 2010 and slashing CO2 emissions by 100,000 tonnes a year. “We are very pleased to engage in this strategic partnership with GE as we continue to strive for more sustainable manufacturing processes,” said Ricardo Dias, VP of procurement for AB InBev Asia-Pacific.

Italy: Carrefour has launched its first Carrefour Planet store in Italy. The supermarket in Paderno Dugnano is opening just over a year after Carrefour opened its first two Planet stores in France. The aim of the new stores is to breathe new life into hypermarkets by offering services such as babysitting areas, wine-tasting corners and even cooking lessons.

US: Enderson Guimaraes, CEO of Electrolux’s 4.5bn European appliances business, has agreed to join PepsiCo as president of global operations. Replacing Richard Goodman, who is retiring after 17 years at the company, Guimaraes will report directly to PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi. He will take responsibility for sourcing, operations and productivity.

Poland: Arla Foods is looking to sell its mozzarella production facilities in Goscino, Poland. The dairy will centralise its mozzarella production in Denmark, closer to its end markets. “Selling the dairy in Goscino makes sense, since most of our mozzarella business is elsewhere in Europe and is not part of our strategic plans in the Polish market,” said Hans Christensen, senior VP, responsible for emerging markets and North America.