Romania: InBev Romania sells 40% more beer in the first three months of 2007

InBev Romania, the third largest player on the local beer market, saw a 40% sales increase in terms of volume in Q1, against the same time last year- the largest increase achieved by a branch of the InBev group in Central and Eastern Europe, Ziarul Financiar reported May 14.

InBev's results on the local market are in line with the sales of the other multinational companies, which reported a 37% increase in volume in the first quarter totalling 2.54 million hectolitres, according to data from the Romanian Brewers Association. The warm weather along with Romanians' appetite for beer was responsible for a 35% increase in the sales of beer producer Bergenbier.

The results were experienced in the first quarter of last year as well, a period considered untypical for beer consumption. InBev's Romanian sales exceeded both the 33.3% rate seen in Ukraine, and the 22.4% rate in Russia, two other markets whose sales exceeded InBev's worldwide results. "Bergenbier Q-Pack and PET-bottled brands continue to be the growth drivers registering a 73% increase on last year, however Beck's and Stella Artois are also aiding growth," stated Mihai Ghyka, general manager of InBev Romania.

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