Czech Republic: Private brewery Pivovar Svijany raises sales by more than fifth

Sales at private Czech brewery Pivovar Svijany grew to CZK 333 million last year from CZK 273 million a year earlier, board chairman Tomas Kucera told CTK June 26.

Like in previous years, the company posted a profit, but it does not disclose its size.

The sales growth corresponds to the increase in output at the brewery which raised production by roughly 15 percent to 205,000 hectolitres of beer last year, said Kucera.

This year, the company plans to produce roughly 215,000 hectolitres of beer and expects a further increase in sales.

The brewery underwent transformation last year, changing into a joint-stock company. Kucera said the objective was to raise the firm's credibility and enable an easier raising of resources for its further development.

In 2005, the company invested some CZK 70 million in modernisation and expansion, raising production capacity to 230,000 hectolitres of beer.

This year, the firm plans to invest around CZK 10 million in development. Costs of the modernisation and expansion of a sewage disposal plant are estimated at CZK 20 million, but the company wants to raise part of the resources from European funds, director Frantisek Horak said.

Pivovar Svijany, with 80 employees, is the largest and oldest brewery in the Liberec region. The company does not export and sells most of its output in the Liberec region.

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