Baltic Beverages enters Uzbekistan market
Tashkent, describing the move as part of the company's strategy of
entering into emerging markets.
BBH is equally owned by Carlsberg and Scottish & Newcastle. The company currently operates 18 breweries in six countries in Eastern Europe, including Russia where it is the market leader with a 35 per cent market share.
Uzbekistan has a population of 27 million, a growing economy and increasing levels of beer consumption, BBH stated. Annual beer consumption in the country is about 10 litres per capita.
"The domestic beer market has developed positively over the past couple of years and BBH believes that it has the potential to grow strongly in the future," the company stated.
The brewery will be operational by the spring of 2007, and will have an initial capacity of one million hectolitres per year, with the ability to increase production subject to demand.
BBH will team up with a local partner in Uzbekistan, Sarbast Plus, and will hold a share of 75.1 per cent in the brewery. The total investment in the venture is €50m.
