Interbrew Romania, the third-largest player on the domestic beer market, broke even last year, after having posted losses of 3.4m euros in 2004.
The brewer last year posted net profit worth 14m euros (50.4m RON), in line with Official Gazette data.
"The income increase was registered as a result of the company''s operation efficiency boosting," said Mihai Ghyka, general manager of the company.
Interbrew Romania reported turnover worth 140m euros for 2005, a consolidated figure for two companies: Interbrew Romania and Interbrew Efes Breweries Ploiesti, where Interbrew held 50% of stock last year. In line with Official Gazette data, Interbrew Romania in 2005 reached net turnover worth 114m euros (409m RON). Sales went up 18% last year, to 2.6 million hectolitres.
Last month, InBev group, owner of Interbrew Romania, announced it would pay 20.79 million euros for the remaining shares in the Ploiesti-based brewery to Turkish company Efes Breweries International.
After the deal, InBev is to take full control of the operations of the Ploiesti-based brewery, whose annual production capacity stands at 1.8 million hectolitres.
InBev owns another two breweries in Romania, in Baia Mare and Blaj, being in full control of their operations.
In April, Interbrew finalised investments worth seven million euros in Ploiesti, where it acquired a PET bottling line. The line has a capacity of 18,000 two-litre bottles per hour. In the wake of the investment, Intebrew started producing the newest brand of its portfolio, Lowenbrau. According to the company''s representatives, Lowenbrau will at the end of this year come to account for about 15% of the PET beer Interbrew sells on the domestic market.
Investments made by Interbrew in Romania top 150m euros and were destined to strengthen the brands the company produces locally.
Interbrew Romania
* Third-largest player on the domestic beer market
* In 2005 broke even, after having posted losses of 3.4 million euros in 2004
* Last year registered net profit of 14m euros
* Posted net turnover worth 114 million euros (409m RON) last year
* Sales surged 18% last year, to 2.6m hectolitres.
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