Heineken subsidiary Żywiec Group to close historic Polish brewery
Żywiec Group, a subsidiary of Heineken, plans to close Poland’s Namysłów Brewery in 2026, where production was first recorded as early as 1321.
Żywiec has owned the brewery since 2018 after buying it for PLN500 million (US132 million) from Chicago Poland Investment Group.
According to Żywiec, the decision is down to “a declining beer market and rising costs and taxes”.
However, Namysłów’s mayor Jacek Fior went on to reveal that the town’s identity had been closely-identified with the brewery for centuries and highlighted how it was the second-oldest continually-existing enterprise in Poland, behind only the Wieliczka salt mine.
Żywiec also revealed that it is in advanced talks with potential investors over the sale of the brewery’s assets.
Lay offs
According to Żywiec, each of the brewery’s 100 employees will receive full severance packages and additional support agreed with trade unions.
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Fior said that he hoped the town’s brewing tradition can be continued and told Radio Opole: “Despite the many twists and turns of history, I wouldn’t want this brewery’s story to end with the current owner.”
Reduced volumes
According to Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, the brewery closure coincides with the fact that beer consumption has dropped by around 5% in Poland over the past five years, while production has fallen 13%.
Despite lower volumes, however, the value of Poland’s beer market has continued to grow with reports also outlining that the Polish beer sector was worth approximately 31% more than its value in 2019.
In 2023, Żywiec announced plans to cease production at its Leżajsk brewery, showing a trend in closure and consolidation.
db has reached out to Heineken for further details.
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