Taste of luxury lifts Sabmiller

SABMiller's UK operating arm Miller Brands said Peroni Nastro had seen 29 per cent volume growth this year, with Czech beer Pilsner Urquell also up 22 per cent in a wider premium market which fell 2 per cent.

UK managing director Nick Miller said: "Throughout the recession, we've seen that consumers still want to treat themselves to affordable luxuries."

The performance provided some cheer, but results from the wider group fell flat as it warned a broad consumer recovery was still months away, sending shares down 4 per cent.

The strong uplift in UK Peroni volumes – equivalent to 23 million extra pints – came after strong growth in pub sales as well as from national retailers.

SABMiller is currently the fourth biggest premium player in the UK market behind Stella Artois maker AB InBev, Heineken and Carlsberg.