Carlsberg, the Danish brewer, plans to cut 70 British jobs as part of a cost-cutting initiative, citing "intensified and increased competition in the U.K. beer market.” The planned measures will affect production, logistics and administration, and will involve staff cuts, Carlsberg said.

The group, which is the fourth-biggest brewer in the U.K., said that it would shed 60 staff in areas such as finance, human resources and purchasing. A further 10 jobs that were vacant would not be filled, the group said.

The cuts would "simplify both business processes and the organization," it said.

It added that it had no plans to close either its Tetley brewery in Leeds or its Northampton plant, which brews Carlsberg lager. It will take a one-off hit of 125 million kroner (16.8 million pounds -- $29 million) against profits.