February 27 (SeeNews) - The Union of Brewers in Bulgaria (UBB) said on Monday its members' sales rose by an annual 2.5% to 5.2 million hectoliters (hl) in 2016, reaching an eight-year high.
Bulgarian brewers contributed to the fisc 81.3 million levs in excise duties last year, which is up by 5%, UBB said in a press release.
It, however, did not provide data about its members' sales in terms of value.
The UBB members - Zagorka, part of Dutch group Heineken, Kamenitza, owned by U.S.-based Molson Coors, Carlsberg Bulgaria, part of Danish brewer Carlsberg, and locally-owned brewers Boliarka VT, Britos and Lomsko pivo, traditionally hold a market share of 93%.
In 2016, the union’s members invested nearly 43 million levs ($23.3 million/22 million euro), UBB also said.
The members of the union launched seven new brands in 2016.
(1 euro=1.95583 levs)