Carling sees 'strong' market share increase

Carling, the UK's best selling beer, increased its market share in the three months to Sepember 28, according to its US owner - despite an overall decline in beer volumes.

In a third quarter trading statement from Molson Coors, owner of the Coors Brewers business, the company said it saw a "strong market share increase for Carling in a difficult UK beer market". Its overall UK beer volumes declined in both the on-trade and off-trade during the quarter.

Molson Coors said its UK business, which also includes Coors Light, Grolsch and Worthington, had grown both market share and net sales per barrel "despite an array of UK industry challenges".

Coors Brewers "also successfully implemented an interim price increase at the end of September", said the statement.

Both the UK business and the Carling brand saw market share increase in both the on- and off-trade. While beer volumes fell by 3.1 per cent during the quarter, the company outperformed an industry decline of more than 7 per cent.

The introduction of draught Magners cider into Coors's portfolio through a distribution deal with brand owner C&C also boosted the business.

Globally, Molson Coors' net income increased 28.6 per cent to $173.2m.

Peter Swinburn, Molson Coors president and chief executive, said: "We are pleased to have achieved higher total company volume and income in the third quarter, despite challenging competitive and economic conditions in all our markets.

"We gained market share in both Canada and the UK during the quarter, and we initiated the integration of two US beer businesses into MillerCoors."

• Molson Coors has also built up a 5 per cent stake in Australian brewer Foster's, prompting speculation it is considering a takeover bid.