GERMANY – The Carlsberg Group has entered into an agreement with Bitburger Braugruppe to acquire the Wernesgrüner Brewery, one of the most modern and successful breweries in Germany, for an undisclosed sum.

The traditional German Wernesgrüner beer brand in the Vogtland region of Saxony, Germany is also included in the deal and is expected to strengthen Carlsberg’s market position in its ‘core regions’ of northern and eastern Germany.

“The acquisition of the Wernesgrüner Brewery will strengthen our position in our core regions of northern and eastern Germany. We will be able to offer a stronger portfolio to our customers, and the acquisition will bring considerable benefits in both production and logistics,” Carlsberg CEO Cees ’t Hart said.

The Wernesgrüner Brewery is claimed to be a modern and efficient brewery with a production capacity of approximately 1 million hectolitres; in 2019, the brewery generated €31 million (US$36.5m) in revenue at roughly half that volume.

“We will be able to offer a stronger portfolio to our customers, and the acquisition will bring considerable benefits in both production and logistics.”

Cees ’t Hart – CEO, Carlsberg

Carlsberg claims that the addition of the brewery to its supply chain network will increase efficiency and flexibility in production and logistics for its German business.

The transaction is expected to complete on 1 January 2021 and is subject to competition clearance.

Earlier this month, it was announced that the merger between Carlsberg UK and Marston’s to form Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company had been given the go-ahead by the Competition and Markets Authority.

The agreement between the two companies would create the new Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC), with Carlsberg UK owning 60 per cent and being able to sell their drinks in Marston’s 1,400 pubs and bars.

This means pints of Danish Pilsner, Tuborg and Somersby Original Cider could be served alongside glasses of Wychwood Hobgoblin, Pedigree Amber Ale and Revisionist Craft Lager.

The Wernesgrüner brewery was founded in 1436 by two Schorer brothers. After establishing property for bottling they soon began brewing on what would become the foundations of the “Wernesgrüner Pils Legend”.

It is known as the aforementioned “Pils Legend,” because it was a bitter specialty during the socialist period in East Germany.

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