Japan: Japanese beer maker Kirin Brewery Co Ltd announced on November 11, 2004 good results for the first nine months of the year to September 30, 2004. The brewery has registered a net profit of 40.5 billion (US$378m) yen versus 34.9 billion year-on-year. Consolidate net sales for the nine-month period to the end of the third quarter (January 1, 2004 – September 30, 2004) were 1,224.1 billion yen, up 4.3% from the same period of the previous last year. Sales in the alcohol beverages business rose 1.2% to 770.8 billion yen compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year, while operating income increased 3% to 54.7 billion yen.

In the happoshu (low-malt beer) category, Kirin strove to reinforce brand power of its Kirin Tanrei Nam series including Kirin Green Label and Tanrei Alpha for health-conscious drinkers. Following the launch of Kirin Honey Brown happoshu, which delivered a new taste by using honey as one of its ingredients, Kirin released in July Kirin Komugi, a wheat germ-based happoshu that created a new happoshu market with a plump taste.

For Kirin Lager Beer, the Company worked to reestablish brand value by airing TV commercials along with Kirin Classic Lager. Sales of Kirin Ichiban Shibori Beer were strong buoyed by its renewal with improved quality and freshness. With the lineup of Maroyaka Kobo, Latte Stout, and Hojun, Kirin said it created a new market and established the chilled beer as high-value category.

17 November, 2004