E-Malt.com News article: Malawi: Carlsberg Malawi announces surprise price hike

Carlsberg Malawi announced earlier this week price adjustments on all its clear beers, minerals, squashes and spirits with immediate effect, Nyasa Times reported.

For instance, the new official retail price for the popular Carlsberg Green (340ml) is now K150 while Carlsberg Special and Stout are both going at K170 with Kuche Kuche fetching K140. The 630ml bottle of Carlsberg Green has been put at K250 though for the last six months it has not been on market.

According to a press release placed in Sunday papers, Carlsberg Malawi indicated that the price adjustments were with effect from 1st January 2012 and the company attributes the increase to the rising production and input costs.

“Carlsberg Malawi would like to inform all its valuable customers and consumers that it has adjusted its prices on clear beers and minerals with effect from 1st January, 2012,” reads the press release in part.

But most consumers were not aware of the increase and argued with bar tenders upon wanting to settle their bills that were on the higher side.

The price increment on all the products represents more than 40 percent increase.

A survey conducted by Nyasa Times show that the recommended wholesale and retail prices are only followed by major shops and chain stores like Peoples, Metro, Sana and Shoprite while all other outlets charge as they see it fit.

However, the company does not enforce the recommended price which leaves beer drinkers at the mercy of the operators.


06 January, 2012