Data from Dreher Breweries – a subsidiary of Japanese Asahi Breweries – showed that demand has grown even faster in the first half of this year, at a rate of 27 percent. Dreher said that as part of their strategy to promote premium and super-premium beers the company is focusing on increasing domestic production and introducing foreign brands, such as Peroni Nastro Azzuro, one of Italy’s most popular premium beers.
Last year Dreher Breweries sold 2.3 million hectoliters of beer in Hungary, representing a 34.7 percent market share. It posted net sales of HUF 46.4 billion (US$165 million) and had an after-tax profit of HUF 473.7 million (US$1.69 million).
In 2016, Asahi Breweries acquired a significant chunk of Central and Eastern European breweries formerly belonging to SABMiller for US$7.8 billion. In the deal, it has bought businesses and breweries in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania and is now the owner of brands such as Pilsner Urquell, Velkopopovický Kozel, Tyskie, Lech, Dreher and Ursus.
