E-Malt.com News article: 397

Brussels, Belgium, 28 October 2002 – Interbrew, the world’s third-biggest brewer by volume announced its trading data for the first nine months of 2002, which confirm the growth of its business. Compared with the same nine-month period last year the volume is up 16.8%. “Stella Artois® continues its double-digit growth in the United Kingdom, while in Germany Beck's® continues to outperform the industry at premium pricing,” the company reported.

About its performance in the USA Interbrew said: “In the United States, we continued to outperform the import segment, with particularly strong performances by Tecate® and Stella Artois®. Good volume growth and strict cost control have been contributing to EBITDA and EBIT growth. Rolling Rock® and Beck's® performed well in the third quarter, with increases in shipments of 5.4% and 4.4%, respectively.”

Interbrew obtained good results as well as in Central Europe with a brand portfolio in Croatia, Hungary and the Czech Republic. “These achievements were offset by a disappointing performance in Bulgaria, where competitors in the low-price segment put pressure on pricing.”

The company’s activity in Eastern Europe may be characterised by 5.3% volume growth in Ukraine, maintaining here its market leadership. However Sun Interbrew operations in Russia were disappointing. “As a result of its late entry into rapidly growing PET and can packaging, the company is now focused on building distribution in these two packaging segments, where it is expected to take some time for Sun Interbrew to reach its fair market share.”


29 October, 2002