Peru: The Peruvian brewer, Union de Cervecerias Peruanas Backus & Johnston, has reported 3% increase in its beer sales in 2003 according to an interview by Dow Jones with institutional relations manager Fernando Hilbck from January 22. The company had absorbed an increase in tax and lowered prices to meet the sales growth, Backus general manager Carlos Bentin said earlier. "We cannot continue to sacrifice the consumers because of permanent tax increases," he told El Comercio. Bentin said that tax now makes up 65% of the sale price of a beer in Peru. Earlier this month, Bentin denied the rumours that Interbrew was considering buying Backus. He said the only thing he could confirm was that there had been no due diligence process.

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