E-Malt.com News article: The Czech Republic: Brewer Plzeňský Prazdroj offers its economical beer in PET bottles

Brewer Plzeňský Prazdroj now meets the requirements of the consumers who prefer economical brands by offering Klasik and Primus in 1.5l PET bottles, the parent company SABMiller announced on July, 28.

"In our brewery, we brew traditional Czech beers, for which the best and most time tested bottle is the glass, recyclable bottle. But lately, in the segment of cheaper beers, PET bottles have also found their way to the consumers. Therefore, in our portfolio we want to offer consumers the option of an economical beer brand in this packaging. In the future we will favour recylable, glass packaging, which is ideal for beer and undoubtedly is part of the beer drinking culture in the Czech Republic", says Vladimír Jurina, brand PR manager of the Plzeň Prazdroj.

All traditional brands of the Plzeň Prazdroj, such as Pilsner Urquell, Gambrinus, Velkopopovický Kozel, Radegast and Radegast Birell are continuously packaged exclusively in traditional glass packaging.

Czech consumers of beer are used to glass bottles, which are recylable. Based on a survey conducted by Simply5, an agency which tracks perceived beer quality in various packaging options, PET plastic packaging is perceived as casual packaging for cheaper beer. Therefore, Plzeňský Prazdroj will offer cheaper segments Klasik and Primus in PET bottles.

With total sales of 10, 7 million hectolitres in the 2008 calendar year (including licensed production abroad) and with export to more than 50 countries, Plzeňský Prazdroj is the biggest producer of beer in the region and the biggest exporter of Czech beer.

Plzeňský Prazdroj, a. s., is a member of the SABMiller PLC. SABMiller PLC is one of the biggest beer companies in the world, with activities and distribution in more than 60 countries on six continents. Group of brands SABMiller includes important international brands such as Miller Genuine Draft, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Grolsch and Pilsner Urquell, and close to 200 successful regional and national brands.


29 July, 2009