Polish pound supports SABMiller

SABMiller sold more than 10 million pints of Polish beer Tyskie in the UK and Ireland between May and October, a five-fold increase on the year before.

The brewery firm captured more than 30% of Polish beer sales in the UK through sales in off-licences and supermarkets.

The firm also gained from the opening of more Polish bars and restaurants.

"The migration of nationalities since the formation of the European Union has increased import and export volumes considerably," said Alan Clark, SABMiller Europe's managing director.

Romanian accession

Other European drinks such as Polish beer Lech and Czech beer Pilsner were also selling well, a SABMiller spokeman said.

The beer firm also owns Romanian brewery Ursus, whose beer may prove popular if Romanian workers follow suit in moving to the UK once their country joins the European Union next year.

Meanwhile, many retailers are stocking Polish brands to cater for an increased Polish population in the UK.

UK supermarkets have started selling items including borscht, pickled vegetables and sauerkraut soup.

Many corner shops, particularly in London, have began stocking imported Polish brands.

Official figures show about 230,000 Poles registered for work in the UK between May 2004 and March 2006.

But the actual number of Poles living in the UK is thought to be much higher, with some estimates putting it as high as 600,000.

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