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Beer sales frothy despite flat economy
The beer and alcoholic beverages market this year will reach a growth rate of 12-14 per cent despite the high inflation and economic downturn, according to the Viet Nam Alcohol, Beer and Beverage Association.
Bia hoi, or draught beer, remains particularly popular with Vietnamese drinkers, says the association, with 1,500 to 5,000 litres imbibed daily. Meanwhile, sales of bottled beer for home consumption are also up - as are prices: a 24-bottle case now retails for VND30-50,000 more than last year.
Hang Buom Street, famous in the capital city of Ha Noi as the centre for beer, soft drink and candy sales, maintains its hectic atmosphere. Vendors there say the rising retail cost of a case of brew reflects the higher wholesale costs they're paying.
"All costs have risen from 30 to 70 percent, so the price of beer is going to go up, too," said a vendor.
Still, consumers keep guzzling. At Tet (Lunar New Year), no one forgets to add beer, especially bottled beer, to the menu, and consumers buy masses of beer to serve to visiting friends and relatives.
With Tet only about a month away, beer manufacturers have announced promotions to attract consumers.
Halida's promotion programmes, giving everyone 18 or older who buys Halida beer a chance to win gold, are worth nearly VND4.4 billion (US$258,000).
Viet Nam is viewed by brewers as an enormous market, with 33 million people aged 20-40 and an average beer consumption of about 18 litres per person per year - about 16 per cent of the consumption in Ireland and half the level guzzled in South Korea. Vietnamese beer companies are targeting an average consumption here of 28 litres a head by 2010.
Viet Nam News
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