Latvia: Carlsberg’s Aldaris brewery sees exports increase 58% in H1 2020

Latvia’s Aldaris brewery in the first half of this year saw its exports climb 58 percent from the respective period last year, LETA reported on August 4 citing Edgars Berzins, the logistics director of Carlsberg Baltic which owns Aldaris.

He said that before the Covid-19 pandemic, the company made a strategic decision to strengthen its positions in the existing markets, for example, in the UK. Even though restaurants and bars in the UK were closed during the pandemic, sales in stores increased.

At the same time, Berzins said that Aldaris' turnover slightly decreased in the first half of this year compared to 2019 because the increase in off-trade segment (stores, kiosks, alcohol stores, etc.) could not compensate for decline in on-trade segment (bars, restaurants, clubs, hotels, etc.).

Nevertheless, sales in June and July were positive and viewed with cautious optimism. If the global situation does not deteriorate, the turnover for this year could be similar to last year's results.

In 2019, Aldaris generated EUR 25.882 million in turnover, down 4.4 percent from a year ago, while loss increased 2.8 times to EUR 3.303 million.

Aldaris is part of the Danish beer giant Carlsberg. The Latvian brewery employs approximately 190 people. Aldaris’ portfolio comprises around 40 kinds of beverages in six product categories - beer, drinking water, alcoholic cocktails, cider, non-alcoholic beverages and energy drinks.