Miller Lite Sales Drop 7.5 Percent

LONDON -- MillerCoors' domestic sales to retailers declined 2.3 percent for the three months ended Dec. 31, which includes a 7.5-percent decline in Miller Lite volumes, SABMiller reported.

The volume declines come during a period of weaker beer category volumes and strong pricing, the world's second-largest brewer said in an interim trading update. SABMiller did not disclose dollar sales figures in the interim report.

SABMiller said preliminary figures showed premium light brand volumes for its MillerCoors joint venture (with Molson Coors Brewing Co.), dipped 2.4 percent in the quarter. The decline in Miller Lite volumes was offset in part by a 1 percent increase in Coors Light volumes.

Sales volumes for MGD 64 continued to grow in the quarter, SABMiller said. MillerCoors' import and craft portfolio also grew, with volumes up 1.6 percent, backed by double-digit growth in sales volumes for the Blue Moon brand.

SABMiller also reported lager volumes declined 1 percent in the three months to Dec. 31, compared to a year earlier.
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