Heineken sales rise 9% to €300m

Heineken Ireland has no intention of following the Guinness proposal to develop a 15 to 25-second pint of Murphy's stout, according to managing director Mr Padraic Liston.

Announcing a 9 per cent rise in turnover to €300 million (£236 million) for 2001 and claiming an increase in market share to 18.2 per cent from 17.6 per cent, Mr Liston said reducing the traditional 119-second pouring and settling time would involve "tampering with something that is part of the culture and is sacrosanct to stout drinkers". Guinness said yesterday the proposal was still at an early stage and any "quick pour product" would not replace its traditional product.

Heineken Ireland, which employs 470 people directly and another 225 in subsidiary and joint-venture distribution arrangements, sells Heineken, Murphy's, Amstel and Coors Light beers. Last May the company changed its corporate identity from Murphy Brewery Ireland to Heineken Ireland. Asked to reconcile his €300 million turnover figure with his claim of an 18.2 per cent share of the €3 billion beer market, Mr Liston said the €3 billion figure included the mark-up margin on retail sales. The market shares figures were based on AC Nielsen market research, he said.

The beer market grew by 1.3 per cent in 2001, down from growth of 1.7 per cent in 2000, with growth driven by lager which now accounts for 48.8 per cent of the beer market against 42.2 per cent for stout, according to Mr Liston. The company claimed number-one position in the larger market with a 30.9 per cent share for Heineken lager.