Bryggerigruppen, the Danish beer maker, has reported a net loss of EUR 5.1 million for the first three months of 2003, against a net loss of EUR 1.5 million for the same period 2001. The company has registered a pre-tax loss of EUR 7 million compared with a pre-tax loss of EUR 2 million in the first quarter of 2001. The decline was attributed by the company to “the DKr40m costs incurred in the imminent closure of its plant at Randers in northern Denmark.” Bryggerigruppen posted an operating profit of DKr3.8 million, versus an operating loss of DKr1.1 million in January-March 2001. However sales fell from DKr596.8m to DKr530.5m for the quarter.

Bryggerigruppen’s analysts are forecasting for the full 2003-year pre-tax profits of between DKr210m and DKr235m, with turnover flat at DKr2.778 billion.

30 May, 2003