Carlsberg Malawi prices adjusted
Barely two months since the last price adjustment, Carlsberg Malawi has adjusted prices for beer and soft drinks by an average of 20 percent.
In an e-mail response, Carlsberg Malawi corporate communications officer Towela Pilling attributed the price increases to different variables.
“Price increases are set according to a number of variables, including raw material costs, commodity price cycles, transportation, freight costs (fuel cost), exchange rates and the general inflation outlook.
“Carlsberg Malawi has a well balanced portfolio of products. Pricing of our products obviously requires a great deal of analysis, forward projection and an understanding of consumer dynamics. This increase, we have changed the relative pricing of certain offerings in order to stabilise the volumes of some and to grow others,” she said.
She further stated that over the past years, Carlsberg Malawi has tended to adjust its prices once per annum.
She, however, indicated that at this stage, and provided the exchange rate and inflation remain constant, the company does not expect to adjust their prices in the near future.
She was quick to point out though that they cannot completely rule out price adjustments in the course of time.
Effective February 20, 2013 Carlsberg Special Brew and Stout rose by about 22 percent from $ 0.6 (K230) to about $ 0.7 (K270) but now the two brands are selling at $ 0.8 (K320).
The price of 300 millilitres Carlsberg Green rose by 14 percent in February to about $0.6 (K250) but now it is selling at $0.7 (K300); while the 640 millilitre bottle is now selling at $ 1.13 (K470). Minerals have been adjusted to $ 0.29 (K120) from $ 0.24 (K100) and some traders are even selling them at $ 0.34 (K140).
Other products such as Orange Squash have not been adjusted in price and a two-litre bottle is still selling at $ 2.3 (K950).
Carlsberg Malawi has eight plants in the country, four in the Southern Region, three in the Central and one in the Northern Region. n
