Bulgaria: Union of Brewers in Bulgaria reports 3% decline in beer sales last year

At its annual meeting, the Union of Brewers in Bulgaria (UBB) reported BGN 57 million in capital investments in 2023, including over BGN 20 million in fixed tangible assets for green innovations such as photovoltaic capacity, completion of bio-anaerobic plants, purchase of hybrid vehicles, renovation of machinery, refrigerated display cases and bottling plants, said the Bulgarian Industrial Association, of which UBB is a member.

The Customs Agency said 40 breweries were registered as at end-December 2023, of which three big, six small and medium-sized, and 31 microbusinesses. The UBB members account for 99% of beer production in Bulgaria and hold a nearly 95% market share. Sales dropped by 3% from 2022 to a total of 507 million litres, with daily sales standing at 1,390,000 litres. Seven new products, including IPA and stout, were added to the main portfolio of the UBB companies.

In 2023, brewers introduced more innovations to optimize water and energy consumption. Carbon dioxide emissions were reduced by 28-30% compared to 2020.

Bulgaria's beer industry employs nearly 25,000 people. Of them, 9% - 2,100 people - are directly employed in the brewing industry and another 9% in the agricultural production of raw materials. National Social Security Institute data show that as at September 2023, the average monthly contributory income in the brewing industry was BGN 2,210, ranking it again in the top ten industries.

The Union noted the major contribution of Bulgarian scientists. In the last two years, six new research tasks have been accomplished. They include the development of a new method for control of microorganisms, ways to increase antioxidants and vitamins in beer, a study on B-vitamins in beer and reports on the functional effects of beer. Hundreds of international studies on the effects of moderate beer consumption and the robust growth of alcohol-free and low-alcohol beer now clearly show that beer can be part of a balanced lifestyle, the UBB said.

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