SABMiller expands in Europe

Fri, 25 Jul 2008

SABMiller is expanding its European export operations to increase its volume over the next five years. This follows days after the Inbev's $52bn (£26bn) takeover of Anheuser-Busch, making the merged brewer the biggest in the world, taking over SABMiller's status.

The London-based producer of Peroni and Miller has most of its worldwide operations in high-growth, developing economy markets of Latin America, Asia and Africa.

SABMiller's new operations will be created in Sweden and Austria with an expansion of the group's existing facilities in France and Spain underway. With the new operations in place, SABMiller will export to nearly every country in Europe.

Alan Clark, managing director of SABMiller Europe, says: "We are consistently seeking to further establish and strengthen our position in key geographies throughout Europe, not only through value creating mergers and acquisitions, but also through investing selectively in lucrative export markets."

SABMiller's brands marketed in Europe include Pilsner Urquell – which has become the largest imported premium/super-premium beer by volume in Germany – Peroni Nastro Azzurro; and Miller Genuine Draft.

Other popular brands imported by SABMiller in Europe are the Czech beer Kozel and Polish beers Tyskie and Lech.