Pivovary Lobkowicz has taken full control of fellow Czech brewer Pivovar Rychtár by acquiring the 30% stake it did not already own in the group.

Prague-based Pivovary Lobkowicz, which is the country's fifth largest brewer, said today it has exercised a previously-agreed option to take 100% of Pivovar Rychtár. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

The company acquired a 50% stake in the Hlinsko-based firm in 2008, which it raised to 70% in 2011.

Rychtár, which was founded in 1913, is one of the few Czech breweries that uses unprocessed hop cones, according to Lobkowicz.

In an interview with just-drinks last month, SABMiller's Europe MD, Sue Clark, said that beer consumption levels in Czech remain high, but that there has been a significant shift from the on-to the off-trade.