Czech Republic: Budvar´s beer output to grow five percent in 2006

Beer production at Budejovicky Budvar, the last Czech state-owned brewery, will increase by five percent to 1.15 million hectoliters this year, the company's PR agency announced on December 28.

Sale on the domestic market will grow some three percent, while exports will be seven percent higher than last year.

"We are especially pleased with the results in the Czech Republic where the market for beer is stagnant. But we also treasure the significant increase in sale on our most important export markets, that is, in Germany, Great Britain, Slovakia and Austria," said Budvar trade director Robert Chrt.

"Many projects and changes launched in the past years have borne fruit this year. We of course want to maintain the growth trend in future. We are already implementing other planned projects that will help us achieve that," Chrt said.

Budejovicky Budvar, established in 1895, was transferred to state hands in 1946. Budvar is the third largest brewery in the country and one of leading domestic beer exporters. Roughly half of its annual production is exported to 50 countries.

04 January, 2007