Japan: Kirin and Asahi Breweries to invest more in no-malt beer production

Kirin Brewery Co Ltd and Asahi Breweries Ltd are upgrading their production and product lines of no-malt beer, a low-priced beer-like beverage also known as third beer, the Nikkei reported, January 4.

Kirin plans to invest 500 mln yen and start making no-malt beer at its Kobe brewery in May, bringing its breweries that produce the beverage to eight, the business daily said.

In 2006, sales of the firm's top-selling no-malt beer, Nodogoshi Nama, are estimated to have risen 40 pct on the year to the equivalent of 38.9 mln cases, each of which consists of 20 633 ml bottles, it said.

Asahi Breweries aims to increase total sales of its three no-malt-beer brands by 8.3 pct on the year to 26 mln cases in 2007, the newspaper said.

Suntory Ltd will launch a new no-malt beer on Jan 30, while Sapporo Breweries Ltd plans to expand its lineup of no-malt-beer brands to three by adding a new product on Feb 14, it said.

(1 usd = 119.05 yen)

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