Plzensky Prazdroj, the leading Czech brewer and a subsidiary of SABMiller, the world's number two beer maker, has reported record-breaking sales for 2002.
Volumes rose 13 per cent to over 9 million hl, with an impressive 6.4 increase in domestic sales to 7.7 million hl despite stagnation in the Czech beer market and the effect of floods in August 2002.
Plzensky Prazdroj also consolidated its position as the leading Czech beer exporter, with foreign sales (including licensed production) surging 35.7 per cent to 1.3 million, reflecting the ever-increasing popularity of Pilsner Urquell and growing demand for the Velkopopovicky Kozel brand in Slovakia, produced under licence by Saris.
As well as licensed production in Slovakia, last year also saw agreements with brewers in Poland (for Pilsner Urquell) and in Russia (for Velkopopovicky Kozel). Plzensky Prazdroj group operates three breweries in Plzen, Radegast and Velke Popovice, with production at the latter brewery topping 1 million hl for the first time during 2002.
Gambrinus, the most popular beer brand in the Czech Republic itself, saw its domestic sales top 4 million hl for the first time in its history, and the brand now accounts for one in every four beers consumed in the Czech Republic, Prazdroj claims.