Švyturys-Utenos alus
| Company type | Private limited company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Beverage |
| Predecessor | Švyturys, Utenos Alus |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Klaipėda and Utena , Lithuania |
| Products | Beer, beer cocktails, cider, alcoholic mixed drinks, soft beverages, bottled water, kvass |
| Owner | Carlsberg Group (majority ownership since 1999) |
Švyturys-Utenos Alus UAB represents a prominent Lithuanian beverage manufacturer established through the consolidation of the country's two largest breweries – Švyturys located in Klaipėda and Utenos Alus based in Utena – alongside several specialised production sites across Lithuania.
In 1999, the Denmark-based Carlsberg A/S secured majority ownership in these leading breweries. Subsequently, in 2001, the Švyturys and Utenos Alus breweries unified to create Švyturys-Utenos Alus UAB, which officially became part of the Carlsberg Group by 2008.
The company’s product range includes beer, beer cocktails, cider, alcoholic mixed drinks, soft beverages, bottled water, and kvass. In 2014 alone, it sold over 185 million liters of beer. Its products reach nearly 30 international markets.
Key facts
- The Švyturys Brewery, founded in 1784, operates out of Klaipėda.
- The Utenos Alus Brewery commenced production in Utena in 1977.
- In 1997, Baltic Beverages Holding (BBH), owned by Hartwall (Finland) and Orkla (Norway), became the principal shareholder of Utenos Alus and also controlled Kalnapilis Brewery.
- Carlsberg A/S acquired a 95% stake in Švyturys AB in 1999.
- That same year, Švyturys began sponsoring Lithuania’s national basketball team.
- In 2000, Carlsberg merged with Norway’s Orkla, thereby gaining control over Lithuania’s top three breweries: Švyturys, Kalnapilis, and Utenos Alus.
- Following directives from the Lithuanian Competition Council, BBH divested Kalnapilis to Danish Brewery Group (currently The Royal Unibrew) in 2001.
- BBH consolidated Švyturys and Utenos Alus into Švyturys-Utenos Alus AB during 2001.
- The company transitioned into a private limited company under the name Švyturys-Utenos Alus UAB in 2003.
- According to a 2004 AC Nielsen study, Švyturys and Utenos Alus were identified as Lithuania’s leading beer brands.
- In 2004, Švyturys-Utenos Alus secured a long-term sponsorship agreement with the Lithuanian National Olympic Committee.
- The firm joined the United Nations Global Compact initiative in 2006.
- By 2008, Carlsberg acquired Scottish & Newcastle’s shares in BBH, obtaining controlling interest over Švyturys-Utenos Alus UAB.
Production
The product portfolio of Švyturys-Utenos Alus encompasses beer, beer cocktails, cider, alcoholic mixed beverages, drinking water, soft drinks, and kvass.
Prominent brands include:
- Švyturys beer;
- Utenos beer;
- Carlsberg beer;
- Blindos beer;
- D-light beer cocktails;
- Kiss cider;
- Somersby cider;
- Zip alcoholic cocktails;
- Vichy Classique drinking water;
- Vichy Fresh and Vichy Juicy soft drinks;
- Vichy Classique Vivasport soft drinks.
Statistics
In 2014, Švyturys-Utenos Alus produced and sold 185.06 million litres of beverages, marking a 6.8% rise compared to the previous year. The company commanded a 40.6% share of Lithuania’s beer market in 2013, with its Švyturys and Utenos brands occupying the top two sales positions.
Its market share growth was not limited to beer; it captured 17.2% of the drinking water sector (an increase of 2.3%) and surpassed a 40% share within the cider category.
Export volumes expanded substantially during 2014, increasing by 39% to reach 49.45 million litres, underscoring Švyturys-Utenos Alus’s growing footprint on the global stage.