Interbrew to invest 100m euros in Romania

The Romanian investments of Belgian Interbrew group, the world’s top brewer, will this year exceed 100m euros. Interbrew Romania, which last year posted sales worth 93 million euros, also hopes to exceed the 100m-euro mark this year in relation to turnover.

The main brands of Interbrew Romania on the Romanian market are Stella Artois, Beck’s, Bergenbier and Noroc.

The company holds a brewery in Baia Mare, one in Blaj and 50% of the stock of the Interbrew Efes Brewery based in Ploiesti, one of the largest breweries in Romania.

“This year, we will finalise an investment programme standing at 15.2 million euros, which was initiated last year to expand our PET bottling capacities, storage capacities and improve distribution. In the wake of this programme, the value of investments Interbew has made in Romania will be above the level of 100 million euros,” says Mihai Albu, general manager of Interbrew Romania.

The Belgian group entered the Romanian market ten years ago and is currently the second largest player on the market, with a 15.4% share from a quantitative point of view in 2003.

Investments worth 100 million euros include sums paid for stock owned in the three breweries, as well as modernisation and efficiency programmes.

The company’s sales amounted to 1.97 million hectolitres last year. The most significant sales increase, of 37.2%, was registered in 2003.

“The growth was mainly due to the launch of Beck’s, as well as the Q-Pack package for Bergenbier brands. The Stella Artois brand has also witnessed a significant increase,” Albu states.
laurentiu.ispir@zf.ro