UK is worst market for Carlsberg
The UK market was the only market to record net revenues below last year for Carlsberg.
The Danish brewer said that "the toughening market environment in the United Kingdom, especially in the on-trade, contributed to the organic decrease in operating results".
Overall, Carlsberg recorded a 4% increase in organic beer volume growth for the nine months to 30 September but an average decline of 1.5% in Western Europe on last year including a 1.7% drop in the third quarter. Net revenue was DKK 45,420m, with organic growth of 7%, across the whole company.
It said: "One of the key priorities for the region (Western Europe) has been to focus on portfolio value management and to increase beer prices to mitigate for the substantial increase in input prices.
"Average sales prices on beer in the period have increased by approximately 5% compared to last year, compensating for higher prices on key inputs like malt, hops and bottles."
As a result of the "deteriorating" conditions in the UK, Carlsberg has decided to shut its brewery in Leeds.
