Flat UK sales hit Inbev earnings

Inbev sells various beer brands around the world

Stella Artois brewer Inbev saw UK sales fall 4.1% between April and June, but said it had increased market share after being less badly hit than rivals.

The Belgian firm, which last month had a $52bn (£26bn) takeover bid accepted by Anheuser-Busch, also saw overall earnings in Western European fall 9%.

Inbev said that it was "far from satisfied" with European profits of 195m euros (£155m; $290m).

But higher earnings from North and Latin America cushioned the blow.

The brewer owns beer brands in 20 markets worldwide, including Becks, Staropramen, Brahma, Hoegaarden and Leffe.

'Rising costs'

"Our overall pricing is healthy, but rising costs continue to put pressure on our margins," Inbev's chief executive Carlos Brito said.

And he added that the planned takeover of Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch was not distracting the group, which remained "focused on driving our organic business".