Beverage industry ignores crisis and increases 5%
O Estado de S. Paulo
More money in the pocket of the consumers and a sunny summer have guaranteed the beverage industry a good performance amid the industrial break down. While the total industrial production of the Country fell nearly 15% in April compared to the same month of 2008, the manufacturers of beverages registered growth of 5%, according to IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics). The economist of the coordination office for the industrial sector of the institute, André Macedo, said the good performance is being driven specially by products like beer and soft drinks, which registered monthly expansions of nearly 10% compared to last year. He attributed the growth to the maintenance of increase of the family income, a decisive factor for the results of nondurable consumption goods, like beverages.
The manager of Relations with Investors of AmBev, Michael Findlay, believes the performance of the beer and soft drink industry was so different from the industry in general in the beginning of 2009 because it is a stabler segment. He evaluates the situation is still positive and it will only be altered in case of worse effects of the crisis on the levels of unemployment. In the first quarter, the sales of beer of AmBev climbed 7.6% up in relation to the same period of 2008, while the sales of soft drink increased 12.6%.
Coca-Cola Brasil also says is has not felt the effects of the crisis. After an expansion of 7% in sales in 2008, the company accounted growth of 4% in the sale of its products in the first quarter. "The consumption of beverages is greatly connected to the income of the families. In spite of the crisis, the income has not suffered such expressive fall, which would change the habits our clients", justifies Marco Simões, vice-president of communication and sustainability of the company. He emphasizes the performance of the Brazilian market remained well above the world performance, which increased 2% between January and March this year. Confident in the maintenance of the growth of the market, the company has kept its investment plan. As a whole, the so-called Coca-Cola System, which includes franchisees authorized to produce the products of the brand, will invest R$ 1.75 billion in 2009, an amount 16.6% above that of 2008. "Such amount includes the opening of two new plants and the enlargement of the current lines of production.