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.

E-malt.com, the global information source for the brewing and malting industry professionals. The bi-weekly E-malt.com Newsletters feature latest industry news, statistics in graphs and tables, world barley and malt prices, and other relevant information. Click here to get full access to E-malt.com. If you are a Castle Malting client, you can get free access to E-malt.com website and publications. Contact us for more information at marketing@castlemalting.com .