Carlsberg UK Reports Volume Decline in ‘Challenging’ Quarter

Carlsberg has experienced a decline in volumes during the third quarter, as CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen noted the company faced a difficult consumer environment compounded by adverse weather conditions. Despite this, the Danish brewer reported a 1.3% increase in global organic sales growth, although organic volumes saw a slight dip of 0.2%.

The premium beer segment was particularly affected, with organic volumes down by 0.5%. Conversely, the company saw positive growth in its alcohol-free offerings, which rose by 6%, and soft drinks, which increased by 4%. Notably, Carlsberg’s international premium brands thrived, with organic volume surging by 11%.

Aarup-Andersen remarked, “It was a tough quarter, impacted by a challenging consumer environment and weather. Nevertheless, we delivered volume and revenue growth in the majority of our markets, although lower volumes in China, France, and the UK impacted overall group performance.”

He expressed satisfaction with the growth of key long-term strategic categories, such as alcohol-free brews, Beyond Beer, and soft drinks. As Carlsberg prepares for the anticipated closure of its acquisition of Britvic in Q1 2025, Aarup-Andersen highlighted the expansion of their partnership with PepsiCo, which will extend to two additional markets starting in 2026, underscoring the long-term potential of their collaboration.

Carlsberg’s volume challenges come in the wake of similar reports from fellow brewer AB InBev, which also disclosed lower volume sales for the third quarter.