Bulgarian brewers invest 29 mln euro in 2023

The green investments were directed towards long-term assets like photovoltaic capacities, bio-anaerobic installations retrofitting, hybrid car purchases, machinery upgrades, refrigerated displays and pouring installations, the UBB said in a press release.

Brewers allocated an additional 5.5 million levs to social projects, including human resources development, community and environmental initiatives and campaigns for responsible consumption.

The volume of beer sales in Bulgaria reached 5.07 million hectolitres in 2023, marking a 3% annual decline. In terms of packaging, glass bottles held a share of 21%, plastic bottles accounted for 48%, while cans and kegs had shares of 26% and 5%, respectively.

UBB members, which account for 99% of the beer produced in the country and hold a market share of nearly 95%, introduced seven new products to their portfolio last year.

Efforts to optimise water and energy costs continued in 2023, leading to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from production by 28% to 30% compared to 2020.

The main objective in 2024 is implementing a beverage packaging deposit system in the country, with plans to adopt a legal framework by the end of the year, the UBB said.

There were 40 brewers registered in the country at the end of last year, according to the customs agency. The beer industry in Bulgaria employs nearly 25,000 people.

The UBB's members include major Bulgarian brewing companies such as Bolyarka - VT, Britos, Zagorka, Kamenitza, Carlsberg Bulgaria, Lomsko Pivo and Dorovski Invest, which is behind the Glarus craft beer range, as well as their suppliers.

(1 euro = 1.95583 levs)