Carlsberg Bulgaria, the Bulgarian arm of one of the world's largest brewers, reported sales growth of 26.5 per cent year-on-year in January-September 2007, officials from the Bulgarian office of the company reported on Thursday.

Despite that the result represents a slight retreat from the 30 per cent growth level achieved last year, the company has narrowed its lag behind the first- and second-ranked players on the market, Heineken and InBev. Thus, Carlsberg is now in control of 25 per cent of the market, whereas Heineken and InBev hold with 30 and 26 per cent, respectively.

The sales pick-up is largely attributable to soaring sales of Shoumensko pivo, up 24 per cent on the year. This is logical because in the past six months the company complemented the Shoumensko pivo brand portfolio with four new products. Shoumensko is now available in 1 l and 1.5 l bottles, in a 500 ml can and a retro-bottle in honour of Shoumensko's 125th anniversary.

The company will continue with investments into technological upgrades. In the next three years it plans to invest 20 million leva in its Shoumen-based brewery.