Carlsberg Carlsberg buoyed by alcohol‑free beer and soft drinks, offsetting a dip in beer volume. The Danish brewer reported first‑half revenues of Dkr47bn, up 2.6% YoY. Soft drink sales rose 7.8% while beer volumes fell 1%, showing the shift in consumer preference.
Alcohol‑free beer volumes grew 11% globally, with a 15% jump in western Europe, underscoring the brand’s pivot to lower‑alcohol options.
Carlsberg’s acquisition of Britvic doubled soft‑drink sales to about 30% of group revenue in 2025. Cost‑savings from the deal were ahead of schedule, with roughly half of the £110mn of synergies targeted achieved this year.
Shares fell 3.3% in early trading as the broader drinks sector grapples with falling alcohol consumption. Industry peers, such as Diageo and Heineken, also announced workforce cuts and leadership changes to navigate the trend.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing