Japan: Asahi Breweries aiming to increase sales of its alcohol-free beer aided by ultrasonic foamer

Asahi Breweries Ltd. aims to increase sales of its Dry Zero alcohol-free beer by 40% this year to 7 million cases, aided by an ultrasonic foamer that produces a smooth head.

Ultrasound gives the alcohol-free beer a smooth head. The Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. unit will deploy the device at some 10,000 restaurants and drinking establishments within the year, according to the announcement made by the company on March, 7. The foamer, designed for small bottles, helps create fine bubbles as the beer is poured.

The brewery also seeks to have 200,000 establishments handling Dry Zero by the end of the year, up 36%.

Non-alcoholic beer sales came to roughly 16 million cases in 2012. The market is projected to grow around 10% this year. Asahi was the last of the four major breweries to enter the segment, but held the second-largest share last year behind Suntory Liquors Ltd.