Slovakia
Bulgaria
Hungary
Macedonia
Other European countries
Regional Review
and productivity were achieved through staff training
and updated systems. Further efficiency gains accrued
from the concentration of production at fewer locations
at the end of 2000. The medium-term outlook for the
large Polish beer market is good.
Better result and good prospects
The Slovakian beer market recorded marginal growth in
2001. Fleineken Slovensko's beer sales held steady at 2.1
million hi and the company was able to defend its market
leadership against keen competition from Czech brands.
Financial performance improved.
Although beer prices in the Slovakian market remained
low, purchasing power is expected to improve signifi
cantly in the coming years. Fleineken Slovensko has
strong brands in Zlaty Bazant, Corgon and Kelt. New
packaging was introduced for Zlaty Bazant to underline
its image as a national premium brand. Corgon achieved
sales growth in the mainstream segment while Kelt
gained market share in the premium segment. The four
original breweries, Zlaty Bazant, Corgon, Martiner and
Gemer, have been fully integrated and now operate
under the same name - Fleineken Slovensko - using the
same business information systems. Implementation of
Fleineken Slovensko's project to build its own distribution
network by acquiring beverage wholesalers has been
accelerated.
Work started in 2001 on increasing the capacity of the
malt-house to 130,000 tonnes. When it is completed in
2002, the new plant will produce malt for the Fleineken
breweries in the region.
Zagorka and Amstel brands achieve strong growth
The Bulgarian beer market posted 5% growth in 2001,
mainly in the low-price segment. Although sales of beers
produced by our Zagorka brewery remained close to
the previous year's level at 1.0 million hi, the company
reported an improved result.
Sales of the Zagorka and Amstel brands were higher, but
low-priced Ariana sales volume was down. Sales of
imported Fleineken beer also rose. Further investments
were made in modernisation of the production facilities.
Stable result due to Heineken sales and cost control
The Flungarian beer market contracted in 2001.
Profitability is low in the brewing sector in Flungary, but
the position is gradually improving. Although Amstel
Brewery Flungary's beer sales decreased from 543,000
to 516,000 hi, the financial result remained stable.
Amstel Brewery Flungary maintained its market share
and, thanks to a better sales mix, effective cost control
and increased efficiency, returned a stable financial
result. Extra marketing and promotional effort is being
invested to halt the decline in Amstel sales. Fleineken
beer, which have been brewed in Flungary since 1999,
again recorded vigorous growth.
Promising launch for Amstel
Despite the adverse effect on the beer market in
Macedonia of the uncertain political situation in the
country, sales of Skopsko and Star Lisec beers by our
Pivara Skopje brewery held steady at 0.5 million hi.
Sales of imported Amstel beer via Pivara Skopje's distri
bution network made encouraging progress. Pivara
Skopje will also start distributing imported Fleineken in
2002.
Beer sales by the Affligem brewery in Belgium grew by
over 10%. Our Belgian brewery exclusively produces
Affligem abbey beers, which are being sold into a grow
ing number of export markets and are developing well as
part of Fleineken's range of international speciality beers.
We increased our stake in the Affligem brewery from
50% to 95.7% early in 2001.
Malt production at Mouterij Albert, where capacity had
been expanded to 230,000 tonnes in 2000, increased
sharply. One of the most efficient plants of its kind in the
world, Mouterij Albert supplies our breweries in the
Netherlands, Nigeria, Brazil and elsewhere.
The beer market in the United Kingdom continued
to contract in 2001, with the weather and the effects of
the foot-and-mouth crisis exacerbating the trend. Sales
of Fleineken Cold Filtered, Fleineken Export and Murphy's
HEINEKEN N.V. ANNUAL REPORT 2001
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