Czech Republic: Czech brewery Budejovicky Budvar (BB), controlled by the state, announced on March 3 a gross profit of CZK 312 million in 2004, a decrease by 11 % from the previous year. Company’s sales director Robert Chrt said BB's beer production fell 58,000 hectolitres year-on-year to 1.11 million in 2004, according to Interfax Europe. Overall revenues in 2004 were down CZK 130 million year-on-year to CZK 2.3 billion.

Budejovicky Budvar’s sales on the domestic market decreased from 633,000 hl in 2003 to 603,000 hl last year. Exports were off by 5.4 % year-on-year to 509,000 hl. In a bright spot, exports to Russia added 25 % year-on-year while exports to Norway jumped by 100%. Exports to France, Great Britain, Denmark and Switzerland also rose. BB became the first Czech brewer to penetrate the Turkish market. The brewery also began exports to Australia last year, after winning a trademark dispute with its US rival Anheuser-Bush, Robert Chrt said.

The brewer’s analysts attributed the decline in sales to unusually cold weather in Europe between April and July of last year. The transformation of the firm's German distribution network also weighed on the results.

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