Carlsberg sees Russia beer market up 3-5 percent

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http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/06/16/us-carlsberg-russia-idUKTRE75F3NS20110616

(Reuters) - Danish brewer Carlsberg (CARLb.CO) expects Russia's beer market to grow 3-5 percent in the medium term as the economy recovers and drinkers switch to beer from vodka, its CEO said on Thursday.

Carlsberg is the beer market leader in Russia, where it owns the best-selling Baltika brand, with a near 40 percent market share.

"We see a return to growth in 2011 after a couple of years of steep declines. We see growth of 3-5 percent over the next three to five years," Jorgen Buhl Rasmussen told Reuters Insider television.

He said that Carlsberg should grow its market share in Russia over that period, and expected the company to slightly outpace the 3-5 percent market rate.

"The last two years have been very difficult with the crisis and a significant beer tax increase. But this year there is growth to look for," he said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in St Petersburg.




:toast:

[tuckessee]

1. The Russians need to drink more beer and less vodka. n/t

[Skink]

2. Baltika rocks

www.baltika.com

[Throd]

4. Baltika 9 is the best buy out there.

[Skink]

5. number nine kicks ass

:toast:

[Canuckistanian]

3. Mmm. Russkoye Pivo...

(Russian Beer) :beer: