Bulgarian Beer Consumption Slumps by 12% in 2009

The CEO of Carlsberg Bulgaria noted a decline of 12% in beer consumption for the year, and predicted only a slow recovery to 2008 levels. Photo by wikimedia.org

The Bulgarian beer market in 2009 has collapsed by 12% in comparison with consumption in 2008.

"If we consider only the last three months, the fall in different regions varies between 20% and 40%,"Alexander Grancharov, CEO of Carlsberg Bulgaria and board member of the Union of Brewers, announced at a press conference in Shumen on Thursday.

"To the reasons for this decline - loss of population, unemployment, a bad tourist season - we may add the influenza epidemic, because of which people have started to get together less," Grancharov said.

According to him, the negative trend will be maintained into next year, when a further decrease of 3% to 5% in beer consumption is expected.

"Market volume has returned to what it was five years ago, and at least three to four more years will be needed to restore the levels seen in 2008," said Alexander Grancharov.

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