The Czech brewer, Plzensky Prazdroj, has posted a 5% rise in sales for the first half of 2003. The company also said that sales in June were up 15% on June 2002.

Prazdroj’s spokesman, Alexej Bechtin, said that the company was expecting a 5% sales increase for the full year. He added that the fastest growing brand was Velkopopovicky Kozel, followed by Pilsner Urquell and Gambrinus.