InBev UK to raise beer prices by 3.3 per cent

InBev UK has blamed rising business costs for significant price rises across its draught and packaged beer product range.

After a review of its wholesale pricing schedule the brewer said that prices for both pubs and the off-trade would rise by an average 3.3 per cent from the middle of September.

The group said it "steep rises in energy, packaging and transport costs" were contributing to the increases.

InBev's new wholesale price list will become effective on September 15, 2008.

Stuart MacFarlane, InBev UK & Ireland's president, said the group had made every effort to absorb rising costs.

"But the sheer size of increases we have faced in recent months and the fact that we are seeing further rises across virtually every element of our business, means that we now reluctantly have to pass on some of these increases to customers," he said.

"We are committed to being as efficient a producer as possible in terms of our operating overheads and will continue to focus on cutting costs across the business. We are at the same time continuing to invest heavily in our leading portfolio of brands.

"However, the fact remains that the brewing process is a very heavy user of energy so rises have an immediate impact on the price of producing a pint - particularly so given the scale of the increases we have had to cope with this year.

"I cannot remember a time when so many major cost increases have come through so consistently across virtually every aspect of our business," he added.