Beer consumption in Bulgaria in April 2003 nearly equaled the consumption for the whole first quarter of 2003 or 31.4 million litres and 31.8 million litres, respectively.
Experts explain the increase with the warmer weather. Pessimistic forecasts of stagnation in the branch in the first quarter of 2003, when beer consumption had dropped by 15 pct year-on-year, are replaced with optimistic expectations for an increase of several percent, experts said.
Zagorka brewery, which is owned by Brewinvest, itself a joint venture between Greece’s Hellenic Bottling and Dutch brewing group Heineken NV, occupies the top position as regards beer sales with 26.345 million litres sold and 26.042 million litres produced beer. Kamenitza brewery, owned by Belgian beer company Interbrew, produced the largest quantity of beer, 30.9 million litres, but sold 24.717 million liters. Bulgarians have drunk some 75 million litres of beer from January to April 2003.
