Bermas Suceava reports lower profits

Bermas Suceava, the number seven on the beer market, has reported a 9 million euro (362bn ROL) turnover for last year, equalling its 2003 turnover in euros. Net income for last year was 850,000 euros (34bn ROL), down 15% in euros compared with 2003. Bermas Suceava is one of the few still independent brewers on the market. “The cold rainy weather last year affected our sales negatively. Furthermore, we did not increase prices as often as in previous years because we felt the people in Moldova could not take that,” says Constantin Gatej, Bermas Suceava general manager. The company makes Suceava and Bermas Pils, as well as Calimani, which is sold in kegs. “We don’t make PET bottled beer and I don’t believe we will, although the companies operating on this segment last year had good sales. I don’t think we’ll even be allowed to bottle beer in PET after joining the EU because this (packaging) allows for air to reach the beer,” Gatej says. ZF