Italian beer booms on Expo boost, exports up 27%

(ANSA) - Milan, August 20 - Italy may be a traditional wine-growing country but Italian beer is booming on the back of the Expo Milano universal exposition, with exports of the frothy beverage brewed in the peninsula up by 27 % over the past five months, the Catholic University of Milan said Thursday.
    Producers of real ale in Italy have increased turnover with more than 60% of producers notching up profits of between 100,000 and 800,000 euros, according to the report for the Union of beer brewers.
    More than 51% of Italian brewers employ full-time staff as what started as a niche market is conquering an ever wider market with production increasing by 18.3% alone in 2011, according to the report presented at Expo as part of the Italy Beer Report for 2015.