German beer sales jump thanks to football thirst

Germany’s leading breweries all posted increased sales for 2006, partially due to increase in domestic beer consumption credited to a hot summer of partying surrounding the World Cup.

The Warsteiner, Krombacher and Bitburger breweries all said their sales for the year were up over 2005, all recording increases in domestic beer sales over the summer months.

The Krombacher Group booked a 2.7% increase of beer sales to 151 million gallons.

Bitburger was the only German beer to be sold in stadiums during the World Cup, but booked a more modest growth of 0.8%, to 214 million gallons.

The Warsteiner Group said it sold 161 million gallons of beer, an increase of 3.2% over the previous year driven by export sales.

Though domestic sales dropped 2.9%, the brewery reported an increase during the June 9 to July 9 World Cup.