Budweiser Budvar is the most sold Czech beer in Austria

Austria is Budweiser Budvar’s oldest existing export territory. As early as in 1897, the brewery successfully exported several brands of beer to Vienna. The demand was so high that the brewery built its own warehouse in 1901. The beer was also delivered directly to the imperial court at the beginning of the 20th century. Budweiser Budvar’s oldest business partner still operates in Austria; the uninterrupted cooperation with the Kolarik family company (presently Kolarik & Leeb GmbH) has been effective since 1926. Additionally, the Kolarik family owns the renowned Schweizerhaus restaurant in the Vienna Prater, which is favoured not only for its grilled pork knuckles and other Czech specialties, but also for its perfectly treated Budweiser Budvar Premium Lager. At the same time, the Schweizerhaus restaurant is the largest restaurant in the world drawing Budweiser Budvar.

The year 2009 saw more than 52,000 hectolitres of Budweiser Budvar Premium Lager exported to Austria, which represents a 5.8% year-on-year increase. The sales volume of this beer in Austria has risen by 40% since 2004. “Our success results from an excellent long-term cooperation with our importer - the Kolarik & Leeb company. Along with the exceptional reputation of Budweiser Budvar Premium Lager, our partner managed to sell the largest volume in history last year,” says Budweiser Budvar’s business manager Robert Chrt, adding: “The Austrians are real beer connoisseurs, who are aware of beer quality, hence their preference of nicely matured beer of strong flavour and mild bitterness - Budweiser Budvar beer. The annual rise can be considered even more valuable in the light of the fact that the total beer consumption in Austria decreased by 3% last year." Budweiser Budvar Premium Lager thus fortified its position as the most sold Czech beer in Austria. Budweiser Budvar shares the total Austrian import from the Czech Republic (app. 90,000 hectolitres p.a.) by about 55%.

Last year, Budweiser Budvar also had a good run in other German-speaking countries. The sales in Germany went up by 9.3%, while a 3.2% increase was noted in Switzerland. “We are pleased with the long-term rising trend in Switzerland, as our sales have nearly doubled in the past 5 years,” Budweiser Budvar’s export sales manager Renata Pánková comments upon the results. Budweiser Budvar accomplished great results in other countries as well. The sales in Slovakia increased annually by 6%. “The Slovakian sales have been dynamically going up since 2004, having increased by 41% in the last five years and reaching its historical maximum last year,” adds Renata Pánková. The sales in Poland rose by 12%, while Canada even saw a 38% increase. Russia represented a big exception due to the rouble devaluation and a beer consumer tax increase, the sales of Budweiser Budvar Premium Lager in this country fell by 40%. Last year, the brewery exported a total of 580,000 hectolitres of beer to 58 countries, which is virtually the same volume as the previous year. The result can be considered a very good one with regard to the anticipated fall in the Czech beer export by more than 10%. Budweiser Budvar Brewery thus increased its share on the Czech export onto 18-20%. Newly the brewery began to export to the United Arab Emirates, Mexico and Kosovo.