Strong gains for Budweiser in the UK provided the highlight in a tough start to 2010 for Anheuser-Busch InBev in western markets.

Budweiser sales by volume in the country rose by more than 40% in the three months to the end of March, compared with the same period of 2009, A-B InBev said today (5 May).

The rise helped the brewer to increase own-beer volume sales by 1% in the UK, against a beer market down by around 5% for the period.

One source familiar with A-B InBev’s Stag brewery in London told just-drinks last month that, despite the facility’s planned closure, it has “never been so busy” producing Budweiser.

The brand is the official beer of the FIFA World Cup and A-B InBev has begun a range of promotions in the UK around the tournament.

Budweiser’s success in the UK provided a rare high point in a tough quarter for A-B InBev in western markets. Group volumes slipped by 9% in Belgium, 5% in Germany and by 6% in the US.

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“We are not satisfied with our overall market share performance,” said the group, but added that it expects some increase in demand in these markets in the second half of 2010.

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