USA: Miller Brewing Co. sales down 2.4 percent for the 2Q of 2006

Sales of Miller Brewing Co.'s flagship Miller Lite brand remained flat for the quarter ended June 30, while the brewer's total sales to domestic retailers declined 2.4 percent, The Business Journal of Milwaukee released July 28.

Graham Mackay, chief executive of London-based SABMiller plc, said Miller was competing in a "highly competitive" environment. He made the statements in a trading update.

Miller Lite sales had been on the rise in recent years after SABMiller, a company created by the 2002 buyout of Milwaukee-based Miller by South African Breweries, launched a turnaround program for the brewer following the acquisition.

Without disclosing dollar figures, Mackay said SABMiller's global beer sales increased 7 percent in the three months ended June 30, with the largest percentage increase - 19 percent - occurring in the Africa and Asia region, driven by sales growth in China. Sales in Central America and South America both grew by 9 percent. The figures do not include sales added through acquisitions.

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