PRESS RELEASE:
17.08.2006
Domestic sales by members of the Finnish Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry 1 January - 31 June 2006
Growth in beer sales halts, sales of non-alcoholic beverages increase
Beer sales in Finland during the first half of the year remained at the same level as in the previous year - a total of 210.5 million litres. Total beverage sales of members of the Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry rose by 1.5 per cent during the beginning of the year. An increase was seen in sales of long drinks and mineral waters in particular.
By the end of June, sales of beverages produced by members of the Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry totalled 414.1 million litres, representing a total rise in sales of 1.5 per cent. The brewing industry’s beer sales for the first half of the year remained at the same level as in the previous year – about 210.5 million litres.
Sales of soft drinks in the January-June period totalled 137.3 million litres, up 1.2 per cent on the previous year. Sales of mineral waters rose by 5.2 per cent to a total of 32.5 million litres. Total sales of non-alcoholic beverages increased by 3.2 million litres. 32.5 per cent of soft drinks sold were light drinks.
The surprise among alcoholic drinks was the long drink, a summer favourite whose sales increased by 2.2 million litres. At the end of June, sales of long drinks totalled 13.5 million litres. Although long drinks only account for 3.2 per cent of total sales, sales growth in this small group was still 19.2 per cent. Sales of cider also rose slightly. A total of 20.3 million litres of cider were sold, up 4.4 per cent on last year.
“For many years, government authorities followed a policy that favoured low alcohol drinks. Now, the government is preparing an extensive package of measures that will restrict the sale and marketing of low alcohol drinks, especially beer,” says Timo Jaatinen, Managing Director of the Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry. “Extra time should now be taken on this, because there has been a clear turn in beer consumption and so such radical measures are not required."
DOMESTIC SALES JANUARY - JUNE 2006
Beverage
|
2006
mill. l
|
2005
mill. l
|
Change
mill. l
|
Change
%
|
Beer
|
210.5
|
210.6
|
-0.0
|
-0.0
|
Cider
|
20.3
|
19.5
|
0.8
|
4.4
|
Long drinks
|
13.5 |
11.3
|
2.2
|
19.2
|
Soft drinks
|
137.3 |
135.6 |
1.6
|
1.2
|
Mineral water
|
32.5
|
30.9
|
1.6
|
5.2
|
Total sales
|
414.1
|
407.9 |
6.3 |
1.5 |
Source: Member companies of the Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks
Industry. The statistics do not include sales by actors outside the Federation,
nor private imports of brewery products.
Additional information:
Communications Manager Katri
Tuulensuu, tel. +358 (0)9 1488 7601, GSM +358 (0)40 777
1938
Managing Director Timo Jaatinen, tel. +358 (0)9 1488 71
The Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry promotes the
interests of producers of beer, cider, long drinks, soft drinks and mineral
waters in Finland. Its members are Oy Hartwall Ab, Nokian Panimo Oy, Olvi Oyj
and Oy Sinebrychoff Ab. The Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry
operates in connection with the Finnish Food and Drink Industries Federation
and is among the four largest industries in the food and drink branch in terms
of the value of production.
