Heineken's share of beer market hits 20%

Heineken Ireland said yesterday that it had taken a 20 per cent share by volume of the Irish beer market in 2005 for the first time.

The Cork-based brewery, which produces Murphy's stout and Heineken lager and a range of other beers, had sales of €325 million last year, a rise of 4.5 per cent, according to figures released by the company yesterday.

It did not reveal a profit figure, however.

Heineken valued the Irish beer market at €3 billion a year, giving it an 11 per cent share by value.

A spokesman said this was an improvement on recent years and predicted that the fall that began six years ago would level off.

"It had been declining by 5 per cent year-on-year since the start of the decade," he said. "Last year I would have reported a 5 per cent fall from 2003 to 2004, but the market was only back 0.7 per cent in 2005.

l An ultra-sonic device is being launched to help Guinness fans perfect their pint.

The electric-powered device is said to activate the gases in the canned beer to make it seem similar to the draught version.

Guinness said the invention was meant to boost consumption of its stout in the home. - (PA)