Carlsberg revenues boosted by warm weather and World Cup | Progresiv
Carlsberg Group has recorded a net revenue rise of 3% for the year, following the strong performance of its core and craft beer brands, as well as its no- and low-alcohol portfolio. 
Carlsberg – which owns beer brands such as Tuborg, Holsten and Birrell – recorded net revenues of 9.53 billion dollars for the full year, the first time the company’s sales have risen in the last three years.
The company partially attributed the performance to the unusually warm weather in Western Europe and the boost provided by the 2018 World Cup, which led to a net revenue rise of 3% and sales volume growth of 3.6% in the region over the year.
Full-year operating profit also increased by 5.1% to 1.42 billion dollars, as profits rose 15.8% in Asia, 11.3% in Eastern Europe and 7% in Western Europe.
Sales volumes grew by 19% in India and by 15% in China, while revenue in Russia grew 3%, also boosted by warm weather and the World Cup.
Craft beer is proving an increasingly popular beverage choice for many consumers, and the company’s craft & specialty portfolio delivered growth of 26%, with international speciality brands Grimbergen and 1664 Blanc and craft brands such as Brooklyn performing strongly.
In 2018, Carlsberg launched Birell as the Group’s ‘first global alcohol-free drink’, and Carlsberg’s overall alcohol-free beer portfolio experienced 33% growth in Western Europe, while the company’s Baltika 0 brand grew by 35% in Russia.
Carlsberg’s core beer brands also experienced growth, as Tuborg sales rose 10%, supported by good growth in China, India and Western Europe, while global Carlsberg sales volumes grew 5%.
Carlsberg CEO Cees ’t Hart said: “We delivered a strong set of results for 2018. In line with our ambitions for SAIL’22, we accelerated top-line growth, improved margins, delivered a strong cash flow and reduced debt even further. (www.foodbev.com)
