"Valmiermuižas alus" has achieved a beer sales record

11.05.2023.

In the first three months of this year, "Valmiermuižas alus" achieved a beer sales record in the company's history and increased its turnover by 48% compared to the results of 2022. On the other hand, last year the turnover of "Valmiermuižas alus" increased by 20% compared to 2021 and reached 7,016,988 euros.

The owner of "Valmiermuižas alus" Aigars Rungis: "In the first three months of this year, we have achieved the historically highest volume of beer sales. The volume of beer sold in liters increased by 16% in the first quarter of 2023, while the sale of soft drinks in liters increased by 47%. After three very difficult and challenging years for Latvian craft brewers, we are cautiously optimistic about this year."

In 2022, 2,251,139 liters of "Valmiermuižas alus" were sold, which is 4.8% more than the previous year. Valmiermuiža draft beer sales in liters in restaurants and bars increased by 59% last year. Kokmuiža non-alcoholic beer sales in liters also grew by 38%, and porter sales by 20%.

"Last year, the fastest increase in sales volume was precisely for draft beer. Latvian beer connoisseurs appreciate and recognize domestic brews and support local producers in times of crisis. Given the restrictions and the slow return of tourist traffic, however, restaurants and bars have yet to reach pre-pandemic beer sales. We plan to achieve them this year, when an active tourism and hospitality season is expected after a longer break," says Aigars Rungis.

Last year, "Valmiermuižas alus" non-alcoholic drink - zelter also increased by 31% „Gardu muti" and Valmiermuiža kvass - the total volume of sales, reaching 285,159 liters. 69 tons of fruits and berries grown in Latvia were purchased for Zelteri brewing. This year, it is planned to purchase already 104 tons of crops grown by local farmers and gardeners for brewing zelts.

The largest investment project of "Valmiermuižas alus" in 2022 was the dark beer storage cellar, 700,000 euros were invested in its creation. "Establishing a dark beer cellar is one of the ways to continue developing the diversity of Latvian craft beer flavors. Dark beers require twice or even three times longer storage time compared to light beers, so the newly created cellar will allow dark beer flavors to be brewed and offered all year round. We plan to increase the export of dark beer and with its flavors reduce the seasonality of beer in the Latvian market during the winter months. Last year, dark beer was the leader in the export growth of "Valmiermuižas alus" flavors, its export volume grew the fastest - by 16%, and we see a wider development path in this direction of flavors," says Aigars Rungis.

Last year, the three largest export markets of "Valmiermuiža beer" were Estonia, Ireland and Great Britain, where the volume of exports is planned to increase this year as well.

About "Valmiermuiža beer":
SIA "Valmiermuižas alus" is a small manor brewery, which is 100% owned by SIA "Valmiermuižas investment fund". It was founded with the intention of developing craft beer brewing in Valmiermuiž, popularizing the purpose of Valmiermuiž as a gourmet tourism route and promoting the export of craft beer made in Valmiermuiž. 60% of the fund's shares belong to the owner of the brewery Aigars Rungis, 24% to the Austrian investment fund "Industrieliegenschaftenverwaltung AG" (ILAG) and 16% to the Austrian company "MVF40".

Additional information:
Rūta Lapiņa, "Valmiermuiža alus" herald
M. +371 26534501, e-pasts: ruta.lapina@valmiermuiza.lv