Norway: The beer price war between Ringnes and Hansa Borg Bryggerier breweries has a negative influence on Norwegian small breweries. The two companies have posted on December 8 that their market share has dropped. Ringnes and Hansa Borg Bryggerier breweries are the two of Norway’s smaller brewers. The price war between Ringnes and Hansa Borg started in autumn 2003. The two brewers introduced their low-cost beers Tuborg and Borg both sold at less than 10 kroner (US$1.50) per 0.33 litre bottle. Hansa Borg and Ringnes have acquired 20% of the market share in October this year.

A small local brewery in southern Norway, Grans Bryggeri, has registered sales decline in October 2003 by 20% year-on-year. It has also had to reduce the price of its cheapest beer brand to 9.0 kroner. Aass Bryggeri, also in southern Norway, has had its market share cut from 6.7% in September to 6.3% in October.

Beer consumption in Norway is falling. Total beer sales decreased by 11% year-on-year in October. In the first ten months of 2003 sales fell by 5%.

10 December, 2003