Kompania Piwowarska plans investment in increased production capacity

Kompania Piwowarska (KP), the second leading beer producer and one of the most dynamically developing companies in the sector, increased sales in 2000 by 36.2%, selling almost 7 million hectoliters of beer. KP President Pawel Sudol believes sales this year will likewise increase at least a few percent. Such strong sales will bring KP close to its production limits, and thus the management has decided to increase production capability. Sudol refused to reveal the extent of planned capacity, but it would most likely be 8 million hectoliters, since KP intends to make a multi-million dollar investment. Sudol did not confirm speculations about KP's interest in buying another Polish brewery. He said that KP's owners, the South African SAB and Euro Agro Centrum, have not presented any plans about new takeovers. KP wants to sell its brewery in Ostrow Wielkopolski and negotiations with potential clients are underway. The firm could earn about zl.20 million on that transaction. (Puls Biznesu, p.6) A.D.