As part of this strategy, Dreher has begun distributing popular Italian beer Peroni Nastro Azzurro but has no plans to brew it in Hungary.

The local market welcomed Peroni which is now in its brand-building phase, the brewery said.

Dreher, owned by Japan’s Asahi group since March 2017, sold 2.3 million hectolitres of beer in Hungary in 2017, achieving a 34.7% market share.

Dreher realised a Ft 473.7 million pre-tax profit between April 1 and December 31, 2017 on revenue of Ft 46.4 billion.