Heineken Ireland reports strong 2007

Heineken Ireland has reported that 2007 was a strong year with sales volume outperforming the declining marketplace.

Company turnover increased by 4% to €346m underpinned by strong sales across the Heineken and Coors Light lagers.

Heineken Ireland holds 21.7% of the total beer market in Ireland, with Heineken lager remaining the top lager brand in the country with 17% market share of the total beer market and 28% of the total lager market.

The company’s sales performance continues to benefit from the increased consumer preference for lager.

In a beer market where lager experienced a volume increase of 1% on 2006, stout continues to experience a further year-on-year decline in excess of 3% with Murphys Stout stable on 5% of the stout market share.

Mr Gerrit Van Loo, Managing Director, Heineken Ireland, said: "In 2007 Heineken again outperformed the market with a strong overall trading performance, despite significant developments in the marketplace, not least ongoing changing consumer lifestyles and changes to the market environment.

"The introduction of recent innovative stocking units, such as the new Heineken 5l keg and the newly packaged format of the 50cl can are performing exceptionally well in the off trade. Our specialty beer portfolio continues to grow with Zywiec benefiting from the strong Polish consumer preference in the off trade and our Mexican beer, Sol is showing very promising potential".