The Russian beer market dropped about 6% in 2010 mainly due to tripled excise tax, the president of Anheuser-Busch InBev Central and Eastern Europe, Mr. Francisco De Sa Neto, was quoted as saying this week. As he said, the company’s output decreased by 1.7% in 2010 compared to previous year. AB InBev’s EBITDA in Central and Eastern Europe reportedly declined about 18%. However, AB InBev “managed to raise its market share due to right investments and implementation of sales and marketing plans”, it is reported.
Mr. Francisco De Sa Neto expects light beer consumption to rise in Russia. Further he estimates consumers to switch from the traditional drink to beer with taste additives.
AB InBev says it is the Number 2 brewer in Russia with a market share of 15.8% in 2010. The company owns 31 beverage plants in the nation. In Ukraine the company is the Number 1 brewer with a market share of 36.7% in 2010.