Kazakhstan – Carlsberg Group, a prominent player in the beverage industry, has unveiled a new US$50 million production center for non-alcoholic beverages at its brewery in Kazakhstan.
The investment aims to bolster Carlsberg’s presence in the region and cater to growing demand for non-alcoholic drinks.
The newly inaugurated facility will serve as a key manufacturing hub, supplying customers in Kazakhstan while also facilitating exports to neighboring countries such as Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Armenia.
With this expansion, the plant’s production capacity is set to increase by 30 percent, from 2.3 million hectoliters to three million hectoliters per year.
The production center will focus on manufacturing a range of non-alcoholic beverages, including carbonated soft drinks, non-alcoholic beer, and malt-based fruit drinks. This diversification aligns with Carlsberg’s commitment to offering a variety of beverage options to consumers in the region.
Lars Lehmann, first Vice President for Central and Eastern Europe of Carlsberg Group, emphasized the company’s investment in the region, stating, “As a leading international investor in the food industry, from 2008 to the present, we have invested about US$213 million in the beverage industry in Kazakhstan.”
He highlighted the social impact of these investments, noting the creation of jobs in both the brewery and related sectors.
The launch of production at the new facility is expected to contribute to complete localization of brewing and non-alcoholic items, meeting domestic demand within Kazakhstan while also facilitating exports to neighboring countries.
Carlsberg Kazakhstan plans to provide employment opportunities for approximately 500 production employees in Almaty and over 2,000 employees in distribution companies across the country’s regions.
However, Carlsberg’s operations in the region faced challenges earlier this year when its subsidiary in Kazakhstan filed an appeal with a Russian court to overturn a ban on selling Baltika brands in the region.
The appeal followed a court ruling in Russia that revoked Carlsberg’s right to sell Baltika brands in several countries, including Kazakhstan.
Despite these challenges, Carlsberg reported positive financial results in 2023, with revenue rising 4.7 percent to DKr73.59 billion (US$10.62 billion).
The company also lifted its long-term targets for underlying sales and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) in February. Looking ahead, Carlsberg CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen expressed plans to increase commercial investments in 2024 to boost sales further.
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