LONDON--Heineken UK is reviewing its UK trade PR account, worth an estimated £500K.

Scottish firm Smarts consolidated the business in 2008, following Heineken’s acquisition of brewer Scottish & Newcastle.

The Holmes Report understands that at least three firms, all specialists in food and beverage trade marketing, are taking part in the pitch later this week.

The Scottish & Newcastle deal made Heineken the largest seller of beer in the UK and Europe. In the UK, its market share is more than 25 percent, well ahead of second-placed rival A-B InBev, thanks to such brands as Foster’s, Strongbow, Heineken and Bulmers.

The company recently appointed group veteran Jacco van der Linden as its UK marketing director, after earlier naming former Wine and Spirit Trade Association CEO Jeremy Beadles as corporate relations director.

A Heineken spokesman said that the company does not discuss “commercial details of any agency arrangements.”