Carlsberg aims to increase beer sales in Ukraine by 15% in 2012
KYIV. June 6 (Interfax) - Carlsberg Ukraine, one of the largest producers of beer and non-alcoholic beverages in the country, expects to increase sales of kvas by at least 30% to 45.8 million liters in 2012, the company's general director, Pyotr Chernyshov told reporters on Tuesday.
He said the company also plans to increase sales of beer in Ukraine by 15% to 7.9 million liters this year, largely on the back of sales during the European football championships.
"Sales for our whole portfolio, of course, will not show such growth, but we are hoping for a big plus," Chernyshov said.
He hesitated to forecast the company's share of the Ukrainian market in 2012. "Two new brewing companies entered the market in Ukraine this year. When two new competitors emerge, it's understandable that they will take market share away from someone. Therefore, if we manage to maintain our share, that will be a big success," Chernyshov said.
He said the Ukrainian beer market will grow by 3-4% this year, and beer prices will go up by at least 15%.
Carlsberg said it sold 35.2 million liters of kvas and 6.9 million liters of beer in Ukraine in 2011. The company became the second biggest player on the Ukrainian beer market in 2011, with a share of about 29%. Its share of the kvas market was 35.8%.
Carlsberg has three breweries in Ukraine, in Zaporizhia, Kyiv and Lviv. Carlsberg Ukraine is owned by Carlsberg Group, the largest brewer in Northern and Eastern Europe and the fourth largest in the world.