Kompania Piwowarska tipped to buy brewer Dojlidy

According to unofficial sources, Bialystok-based brewer Dojlidy may soon change hands as its owner, Radeberger, has stepped up its search for a new investor for the company. The news, although officially denied by both the brewery's authorities and the Germans, sparked wild speculations throughout the beer sector. According to the markets, Kompania Piwowarska (KP), the second biggest player in the sector after Grupa Zywiec, may be the most likely buyer. KP admits it is planning to strengthen its position in the sector and to increase its market share to 35%, but would not comment on its investment plans. It is also known that KP's partner, Jan Kulczyk, is interested in taking over two brands which are currently controlled by foreign investors. One of them might be Dojlidy, which in 2002 sold 734,000 hectolitres of beer - almost twice as much as in 2001 - and has a market share of 3.5%. (Puls Biznesu, p. 6) J.K.