Pilsner Urquell raises sales to more than 200,000 hl per year

SABMiller announced that it is expanding its European export operations into several additional markets, with the intention of significantly increasing volumes over the next five years. New operations will be created in Sweden and Austria, with an expansion of the group’s existing facilities in France and Spain already underway.

SABMiller says it has seen strong growth across its European export markets in the past five years, with volumes rising by 24 percent annually to more than 2.5 million hl. In the last year alone, SABMiller’s exports in Europe have risen in volume by 40 percent.

In the year 2007-2008, Germany accounted for 300,000 hl beer with 200,000 hl being Pilsner Urquell.

The most popular of SABMiller’s brands marketed within Europe are Pilsner Urquell that has become the largest imported premium beer by volume in Germany, claims SABMiller; Peroni Nastro Azzurro which is now the UK’s fastest growing premium lager; and Miller Genuine Draft which is the volume and value leader within the premium segment of the Turkish beer market.

Other popular brands imported by SABMiller in Europe are the Czech beer Kozel and the Polish beers Tyskie and Lech.