Tunisian beverage giant SFBT reported robust health in the first quarter of 2026, with net revenue (excluding taxes) reaching 126.3 million dinars as of March 31, up from 119.6 million dinars a year earlier, representing a 5.6% increase.
The growth was driven primarily by local beer, whose revenue jumped 17.3% to 82.3 million dinars. Even more striking, beer exports surged by an astonishing 457.7%, climbing from 0.4 million dinars to over 2.3 million dinars in just one year.
At first glance, the soft drinks segment appears to be struggling, with local revenue down 16.6% and sales volumes falling 14.2%. However, the decline is purely mechanical.
The drop stems from the establishment of a dedicated billing center for subsidiary SGBIA at the Charguia plant. As a result, the Charguia facility now only records sales of returnable glass bottles, while cans and PET packaging are handled directly by the subsidiary.
This operational reorganization explains the lower revenue booked by the parent company and does not reflect any real decline in overall consumption.
Despite logistical adjustments, industrial capacity remains at full throttle. Soft drink production rose 41% compared with the first quarter of 2025, while beer production increased 12%.
The company made significant investments totaling 15.1 million dinars during the quarter. Most of this amount, 8.7 million dinars, was allocated to industrial equipment for the Bab Saadoun plant, with the remainder strengthening the returnable packaging pool.
In summary, SFBT is entering the 2026 fiscal year focused on restructuring and international expansion of its beer segment, while consolidating local production capabilities.
