The Austrian beer and drinks group, Oesterreichische Brau Beteiligungs AG (BBAG), the holding company for Brau Union AG, has reported preliminary sales for 2002 of €1.117 billion, up 1.1% from 2001.

Beer sales volumes rose by 1% to exceed 13m hectolitres for the first time. BBAG has said that it is aiming to become the leading brewing force in Central Europe in 2003 and with this aim in mind has recently begun talks with possible strategic partners for the region.