MBUK outperforms UK market with innovations

Miller Brands outperforms UK market with innovations

British fans of stylish Italian beer Peroni Nastro Azzuro can now pick up a Piccola, a new 25cl bottle aimed at the pre-dinner drinks occasion, which is launching at the House of Peroni - a London installation showcasing high-end Italian design, art, fashion, photography, music and film during May.

It's the latest innovation from SABMiller subsidiary, Miller Brands UK (MBUK), which outperformed the UK beer market for the 12 months to the end of March 2014. During the period, MBUK's domestic lager volumes grew by +5% compared to the overall beer market in the UK which was almost level with the prior year, declining by less than 1%.

Gary Haigh, Managing Director of Miller Brands UK, said: "Consumers are increasingly looking for authenticity and a story in the beers they drink. The strong growth of Peroni and Pilsner Urquell in the UK reflect the heritage of our brands and the introduction of innovative ways for people to enjoy and experience our great beers." 

During the year MBUK also introduced unpasteurised Tankovna Pilsner Urquell to the UK via permanent tanks at two London pubs: the White Horse in Parsons Green, and The Strongroom Bar & Kitchen in Shoreditch. Pilsner Urquell is the first - and remains the only - international beer to be offered to the UK market in an unpasteurised form, which lets people enjoy the unique taste of Pilsner Urquell at its very freshest.

The Tankovna installations build on the success of MBUK's strategy to raise consumer awareness of Pilsner Urquell's heritage by hosting hundreds of tasting events at pubs and bars around London where consumers can sample the original pilsner beer, first brewed in Pilzen near Prague in 1842, freshly tapped from an oak barrel. During the year, MBUK organised over 200 of these tasting events at 250 pubs, bringing over oak barrels of Pilsner Urquell from the Czech Republic, each containing 40 pints of freshly brewed, unpasteurised and unfiltered Pilsner Urquell.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Overview of SABMiller

SABMiller plc is one of the world's leading brewers with more than 200 beer brands and some 70,000 employees in over 75 countries. The group's portfolio includes global brands such as Pilsner Urquell, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Miller Genuine Draft and Grolsch; as well as leading local brands such as Aguila (Colombia), Castle (South Africa), Miller Lite (USA), Snow (China), Victoria Bitter (Australia) and Tyskie (Poland). SABMiller also has growing soft drinks businesses and is one of the world's largest bottlers of Coca-Cola products.

In the year ended 31 March 2013 the group reported group lager volumes of 242 million hectolitres, group net producer revenue of US$26,932 million and EBITA of US$6,379 million. SABMiller plc is listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges.

This announcement is available on the company website: www.sabmiller.com

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Multi-media content

B-roll footage of the UK beer market is available for download from our broadcast footage library

UK consumer images are available for download from our media image library

Miller Brands is the UK and Ireland subsidiary of SABMiller, one of the world's largest brewers. Miller Brands has responsibility for the development of SABMiller's international premium brands across the UK and Ireland; these include Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Pilsner Urquell and Miller Genuine Draft. Through its consistent pricing and distribution discipline, supplemented by engaging marketing activities, Miller Brands is bringing value back into the beer category. More information can be found at www.millerbrands.co.uk.

Enquiries

SABMiller plct: +44 20 7659 0100

Richard FarnsworthBusiness Media Relations ManagerSABMiller plct: +44 7734 776 317