E-Malt.com News article: 618

The Austrian beer and drinks group, Oesterreichische Brau Beteiligungs AG (BBAG), the holding company for Brau Union AG, has reported preliminary sales for 2002 of €1.117 million, up 1.1% from 2001. Adjusting for the reduced beer taxes in Romania, net sales increased by 2.8% to € 920 million. The beer division contributed with 89% to the total sales.

Beer sales volumes rose by 1% surpass the 13 million hectoliter threshold for the first time. Gösser volume rose by 5.8%, mainly due to the Romanian start and the more than 100% increase of the license production in Russia. Kaiser was 4.7% below last year's volumes. This performance coincides with the strong growth of the Hungarian brand "Soproni Ŕszok". Zipfer was able to increase its position in Austria as well as in the Italian export business and grew by 1.9% in total. With 4.9% Starobrno posted gains in the Czech market as well is in the export business in Sweden and the Slovak Republic.

BBAG has said that it is aiming to become the leading brewing force in Central Europe in 2003 and with this aim in mind has recently begun talks with possible strategic partners for the region.


07 February, 2003