At the end of August, the owner of Valmiermuiža Beer, Aigars Ruņģis, issued a statement in which, complaining about unfavorable conditions for the small brewery business, he questioned the usefulness of investing in development. Now the owner announces that he is ready to join Cēsu alus, which belongs to Finns.
At the end of August, the owner of Valmiermuiža Beer, Aigars Ruņģis, issued a statement in which, complaining about unfavorable conditions for the small brewery business, he questioned the usefulness of investing in development. Now the owner announces that he is ready to join Cēsu alus, which belongs to Finns.
“This is a strategic and well-considered decision that will allow the brewery family to continue and develop craft beer brewing in Valmiermuiža and for customers to enjoy consistently high-quality brews. Although this is the best year in history for Valmiermuiža Beer, at the same time we are aware that we are operating in a business environment in Europe that is unfriendly to small and independent brewers, as a result of which Latvia ranked last in the European Union last year in terms of the volume of beer produced. This significantly hampers the ability of Latvian brewers to grow, invest, and compete on a European scale. I am convinced that a great future awaits Valmiermuiža brewery, by joining forces in synergy with Cēsu alus located in the neighboring district, so that the work already begun can continue with even greater strength and Valmiermuiža beer will keep being brewed in Valmiermuiža,” explains the owner of Valmiermuiža Beer, Aigars Ruņģis.
Cēsu alus promises that when taking over the Valmiermuiža production facility, the recipes and brewing traditions will definitely be preserved.
“We highly value the contribution of Aigars Ruņģis and the Valmiermuiža Beer team both in creating excellent quality and popular beer brands, and in developing the culture of beer enjoyment in Latvia. We are glad that we will be able to join forces and, respecting shared values and traditions, continue the development of the brewery and strengthen our capacity in conquering export markets. Valmiermuiža Beer will continue to operate in Valmiermuiža, maintaining the high standards of beer quality; we will honor the recipes and other secrets of creating beverages that make Valmiermuiža beer so special. We are patriots, and we care about the development of the Vidzeme region and Latvia, economic growth, and the ability to provide stable jobs for local people, so it is important to continue brewing Valmiermuiža beer in Valmiermuiža,” says Cēsu alus Chairwoman of the Board, Evija Grīnberga.
The Valmiermuiža Beer brewery achieved the most successful operating results in its history last year and in the first seven months of this year: last year turnover reached 10 million euros for the first time, while in the first seven months of this year, compared to the same period last year, it grew by another 5% – to 6.7 million euros. Operating profit increased more than fourfold, and the sales volume of both shandy (+20%) and non-alcoholic beer (+40%) grew, driven by exports and the appearance of new flavors in the Valmiermuiža range. The increase in the volume of exported liters was also successful – 20%, while in restaurants and bars in export markets, draft beer sales were 50% higher than before. Valmiermuiža Beer is available in Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
The companies inform that a notification will be submitted to the Competition Council, and the completion of the transaction is planned after the notification has been reviewed and approved. The merger of Cēsu alus and Valmiermuiža Beer will be completed once the permission to merge has been received from the Competition Council. Meanwhile, Valmiermuiža Beer continues brewing and supplying beverages to customers under the leadership of Aigars Ruņģis.
Valmiermuiža Beer is a small manor brewery that is 100% owned by the Valmiermuiža Investment Fund. 60% of the fund’s shares are owned by the brewery’s owner, Aigars Ruņģis, 24% by the Austrian investment fund Industrieliegenschaftenverwaltung AG (ILAG), and 16% by the Austrian company MVF40.
Cēsu alus is the largest brewer and one of the leading producers of other beverages in Latvia. The Cēsu alus group of companies also includes the Piebalga brewery, which joined in 2021 and continues independent operations in Jaunpiebalga. Cēsu alus finished 2024 with a turnover of 101.133 million euros, while the company’s profit increased by 4.4% and reached 3.564 million euros.
Originally published at https://inc-baltics.com/valmiermuizas-alus-padodas-pardosies-cesu-alum/
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