Bulgaria: Domestic January-February beer sales increased by 32% year-on-year
Domestic beer makers sold 347,557 hectoliters in January-February 2006, up 32.56% year-on-year, shows data of Union of Brewers in Bulgaria, Dnevnik communicated on March 15.
Locally-owned beer makers Ledenika and MM do not report sales to the UBB. The brisk sales growth is due to the fact that a year ago, consumers had to stomach an excise hike which sent the market temporarily sideways.
Sales at Heineken-owned Zagorka AD doubled year-on-year to 110,012 hectoliters but the beer maker loses the top position it held in January to InBev-owned rival Kamenitza AD which sold 124,339 hectoliters in January-February.
Carlsberg Bulgaria remains in the no.3 spot with 77,614 hectoliters. The only UBB member to post a year-on-year decline, albeit fractional, was Boliarka VT where sales fell from 29,900 to 29,589 hectoliters.