InBev hikes beer prices by 7p a pint

InBev UK has slapped an average 7p increase on the wholesale price of a pint from 2 February.

The Stella Artois brewer increased prices on two occasions last year and blamed difficult market conditions and the increasing cost of raw materials for the current rise.

It has also increased the supplement cost of small kegs of Stella Artois, Tennent's Lager, Castlemaine XXXX, Boddingtons Draughtflow and Beck's Vier by 6p to 76p to reflect an "increase in manufacturing, handling and supply costs".

There will be no supplement increase on Tennent's Lager small kegs, which remains at 70p per keg.

There is no rise on packaged products at present.

"Difficult market conditions, increased commodity prices and a tough economic climate meant that during the last year we faced numerous cost increases — and while we have absorbed these where at all possible, we unfortunately have to pass some of those cost increases on to our customers," InBev UK & Ireland president Stuart MacFarlane.

Last year, InBev followed up a 4.15% rise on draught products and 4.1% rise on packaged brands in February with a 3.3% rise in September.

InBev is the third brewer to announce its price rises this year, following a 5.74% increase from Scottish & Newcastle and a 5.4% hike on Guinness.