GERMANY: Radeberger volumes down in year so far, set fair for FY

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 9 June 2008

Radeberger Gruppe has reported a slight dip in sales volumes for the first four months of this year, but has still forecast sales value growth for this year.

The German brewer, one of the country's largest, was reported over the weekend as having seen sales volumes slip by 0.8% in the four months to the end of April. While Radeberger's management forecast a 4% decrease in sales volumes for Germany's beer market as a whole, the company still expects sales this year to reach EUR1.5bn (US$2.35bn), up from last year's EUR1.25bn.

Radeberger, which is part of the Oetker Group, currently accounts for around 15% of the German beer market and has 14 breweries around the country.

Earlier this year, the company received the green light from the European Commission for its proposed purchase of German drinks distributor Getränke Essmann. The distributor handles wholesale distribution of beverages in Lower Saxony, Bremen, North Rhine Westphalia and Saxony-Anhalt, and brews beer, albeit on a small scale, through its subsidiary Phoenix.

Sectors: Beer & cider

Companies: Radeberger