Our portfolio In the USA has expanded
with the addition of the premium and
specialty brands of FEMSA.
These brands add about 2.2 million
hectoliters to the Company's volumes
in the USA.
Heineken N.V. - Annual Report 2005
Chile and Argentina
Heineken operations in the area are conducted
through a 50 percent share in IRSA, a joint venture
controlling 64 percent of Compania Cervecerias
Unidas (CCU), Chile's top brewer, which also owns
a solid second market position in Argentina.
In 2005 revenue, including soft drinks, increased
by 28.3 percent as a result of both a positive
volume growth and an improving price and sales
mix effect. EBIT also grew as a result of stronger
evenues and a positive exchange rate effect.
Caribbean
Heineken operations in the area were good, both
in terms of revenues and EBIT. The positive price
and sales mix was able to offset currency pressure
at the EBIT level, and the solid execution of the
regional strategy contributed positively to the
organic volume growth.
In terms of brands, Heineken posted positive
growth across the region and remains the most
widely available beer in the Caribbean, with
a strong position in each of 31 regional markets.
Chile, beer volumes rose by half a million
sctolitres boosted by a temporary price reduction
May.
We closed the brewery in Curagao.
I CCU brands developed positively during the year
ith the Heineken brand recording a impressive
percent surge and Cristal growing by 8 percent.
CU also produces and sells soft drinks in the region,
th satisfactory results in 2005.