Czech Republic: Czech beer maker, The Bernard family brewery, increased its beer production in 2004 by 4% year-on-year up to 127,000 hectolitres. Sales climbed by 17% versus 2003, to CZK 176 million. The company attributed the increase to higher beer prices, Interfax Europe commented.

Bernard produces seven varieties of non-pasteurised beer, which it supplies to 1,600 restaurants throughout the country. Roughly 5 % of output was exported to Slovakia last year, and this year the figure should double from 6,500 hl, the brewery said. Bernard also exports to Sweden, Germany, Croatia, and Russia. The company has sent its first bottled beer to Spain and also plans to export to the US.

Bernard is now the largest brewer in the Vysocina regions. The company employs 90 workers. It also operates a malt house - Sladovna Bernard - near Brno with a production capacity of 6,500 tonnes of malt, two thirds of which are sold. From its privatisation in 1991 until mid-February 2005, the brewery has produced 1.5 million hl of beer, or 3 million 50-liter barrels.

12 March, 2005