Heineken’s Grupa Żywiec buys Polish firm Browar Namysłów | Progresiv
Heineken’s Grupa Żywiec unit in Poland has secured a deal to acquire beer maker Browar Namysłów for PLN 500 million (131.6 million dollars). 
Grupa Żywiec said the move will allow Namysłów to develop its brands – which include Namysłów, Braniewo, Zamkowe – on a larger scale.
Browar Namysłów produces around 1.7 million hl of beer per year from its facilities in Namysłów and Braniewo.
Meanwhile, Żywiec seeks to respond to a growing consumer demand for regional, speciality beers – a segment which is said to be the fastest growing in the Polish beer market.
Grupa Żywiec brews over 11 million hl of beer annually from five breweries in Żywiec, Warka, Elbląg Leżajsk and Cieszyn. Brands include Żywiec, Warka, Tatra, and Królewskie.
Guillaume Duverdier, president of the management board of Grupa Żywiec, said he believes Namysłów’s knowledge of the speciality beer market and Żywiec’s experience in building brands on a larger scale will create a recipe for success in a changing market.
Browar Namysłów majority shareholder Michael Gostomski said the partnership will allow the company to fully grow to its potential.
In its most recent quarterly results, Heineken recorded double-digit volume growth in Poland.
In the July to September period, reported net profit was 1.6 billion euros, up from last year’s 1.49 billion euros figure, as consolidated beer volumes grew 4.6%. (www.foodbev.com)
