Russia: Baltika Breweries expands capacity for production of non-alcoholic beer

Russia-based Baltika Breweries, part of the Carlsberg Group, has expanded its capacity for production of non-alcoholic beer, the Drinks Business Review reported on March 16.

The company increased the number of sites where innovative non-alcoholic brewery equipment is installed.

Baltika-Samara brewery became the fourth brewery where the first edition of non-alcoholic beer Baltika 0 was produced.

Baltika said in the recent years there has been a significant growth in the non-alcoholic beer industry in Russia.

Non-alcoholic beer segment witnessed a growth of 12% in the country, while the total beer market saw a decline between 1-2%.

To cater to the increasing demand for the segment, Baltika has invested in the equipment and is poised in bringing an alcohol-free beer to the market at an affordable price.

Baltika Breweries Marketing vice president Maxim Lazarenko said: "Recently we noted strengthening trend of growth of alcohol-free beer category in our country. And this is to be expected: in Russia, the segment takes no more than 1% of market, while in Germany it amounts to 5% and to 15% in Spain.

“With the development of beer consumption culture, the structure of Russians preferences is also gradually approaching the common European one. Therefore, we made a decision to extend the geography of production of Baltika 0 leading on the market of alcohol-free beer brands in 2017 and moved to the east of our country.”

The company said the process of producing non-alcoholic beer is more expensive compared to alcoholic beer. It says the non-alcoholic beer should meet the requirements which are imposed on soft drinks.

The calorific value of Baltika 0 is claimed to be lower than apple juice and the beer also has low glycemic index similar to fat-free kefir.

One of the major reasons for the increase in demand for non-alcoholic beer has been the popularisation of healthy lifestyle in public. The company claims that it has been a pioneer in non-alcoholic beer in the country with a 60% market share.

Presently, Baltika 0 is not only consumed in Russia, but is being exported to 47 countries.

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