Bulgaria: Beer sales up 32% in Q1

Sales of Bulgarian brewers grew by 32% in the first three months of the year, compared to the same period of 2006, to 887,512 hectoliters, according to data of the brewers industry union, April 18.

Nearly half of the sales, 434,918 hectoliters, were sold in March alone.

The figures do not include the sales of Ledenika&MM brewery, which is not a member of the industry union.

Carlsberg Bulgaria reported the biggest sales increase, by 80% to 258,113 hectoliters.

Zagorka, owned by Heineken, remains the biggest brewer on the Bulgarian market, with sales of 291,000 hectoliters, a 31% hike on the year.

Belgian InBev's Bulgarian arm, Kamenitza, reported a 2.3% drop in sales, to 230,500 hectoliters

Carlsberg, Heineken and InBev are three of the top five biggest brewers in the world, together with Anheuser-Busch and SAB Miller, which do not have operations in Bulgaria.