Bubbling South America

Economic recovery is underway in South America with a vengeance, and with it consumption volumes of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Quilmes, a producer and supplier of both categories of drinks, says all its markets have improved. The firm supplies products in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay and such has been its growth that its projects include a new glass bottle factory in Paraguay. Quilmes' beer volumes increased 8% in the first half of 2005 as demand increased in all its markets, while strong performances in Argentina and Uruguay helped the company's water and soft drinks volumes rise by 22.5%.