Bulgaria: Beer sales edge down by 1% last year
The volume of beer sales in Bulgaria edged down by 1% to 5.13 million hectolitres last year, the Union of Brewers in Bulgaria (UBB) said on March 19.
The UBB members, which hold a share of 93% of the domestic market among themselves, invested 41.1 million levs ($25.8 million/21 million euro) in their businesses last year, UBB said in a statement.
The funds were invested mainly in upgrading production lines and construction of storage facilities, logistics centres and water purification plants.
"The positive trend of decreasing the share of beer sales in PET bottles, which dropped to 56%, continues," UBB added.
The proportion of glass containers represented 23%, cans - 15% and beer kegs - 6%.
Last year, brewing companies in Bulgaria expanded their portfolios by 14 new beer brands and added 25 new packaging types.
The UBB members include Zagorka, part of Dutch group Heineken; Kamenitza, owned by U.S.-based Molson Coors; Carlsberg Bulgaria, part of Danish brewer Carlsberg, and locally-owned brewers Boliarka VT, Britos and Lomsko Pivo.