Carlsberg puts a brewery up for sale

Given the relatively small amount of beer brewed by Carlsberg in Italy, it has always puzzled market observers why Carlsberg insisted on keeping two breweries running. Finally, in March Carlsberg announced that it would concentrate its brewing in Italy at the brewery in Varese north of Milan.

According to a corporate statement, the brewery near Milan will be modernised and the capacity will be increased by 0.5 million hl to 1.4 million hl beer. The brewery in Ceccano south of Rome is for sale. Whether anyone will want to buy it, is another question.

Carlsberg started brewing and distribution of Carlsberg and Tuborg beer in Italy in 1975. In 1982, Carlsberg acquired 50 percent of the brewer Industrie Poretti, and the remaining 50 percent were acquired in 2002, whereupon the company became Carlsberg Italia S.p.A.