SABMiller has reported a 9% rise in UK volumes in the three months to 31 December, led by Peroni Nastro Azzurro, as a result of “increased distribution and an improved rate of sale”.
The performance in the UK, under its subsidiary Miller Brands, is in contrast to the picture for Europe as a whole, where volumes fell by 2% and net producer revenue (NPR) declined by 6%, with a deterioration in group NPR per hl “due to adverse category mix”.
Global beverage volumes grew 2% on an organic basis, with lager volumes up 1% and soft drinks volumes up 7%. NPR per hectolitre grew by 2%.
The group said its financial performance is in line with expectations.
Alan Clark, chief executive, said: “Growth in the third quarter was driven by our emerging market businesses where we are successfully targeting new consumers through affordability and premiumisation initiatives across our brand portfolios.
“The combination of pricing and volume growth, particularly in Africa, Latin America and China, supported net producer revenue growth of four percent. This was in spite of continued weakness in consumer sentiment, which particularly impacted our European and North American businesses.”
