SABMiller's beer sales in Romania stagnate in last quarter of 2010

SABMiller brewer's sales in Romania stagnated in the last three months of 2010, on a declining beer market, the company has announced in its most recent earnings update. “In the Czech Republic, domestic volumes were down 7 percent, and were affected by the continuing weakness in consumer spending, which particularly impacted the on-premise channel,” according to the brewer. Overall, on an organic basis lager volumes for the third quarter were 3 percent higher than the prior year. “Continued improvement in economic conditions in many of our emerging markets assisted our volume performance,” writes the company. SABMiller owns Ursus Breweries in Romania, with factories in Timisoara, Buzau, Cluj – Napoca and Brasov. It also owns Bere Azuga. Ursus has announced it will close down the Cluj – Napoca factory due to high operating costs and to the drop on the beer market. editor@romania-insider.com