Birra Castello sells brewery to Denmark’s Royal Unibrew

Italy | It was not just a rumour after all. As we reported in June, the Danish multi-beverage company, Royal Unibrew Group, was allegedly in talks to buy the San Giorgio di Nogaro plant in the province of Udine, from the Italian brewer Birra Castello.

The sale was made official on 21 July. No financial details were disclosed.

The acquisition of the plant, with an estimated production capacity of up to 1 million hl beer per year, will “significantly enhance Royal Unibrew's production and packaging capacity for cans and glass bottles in Italy. Equipped with two filling lines, this facility will allow the Group to strengthen its presence in Italy, enabling the company to meet the growing demand for its products both locally and internationally,” the press release said. 

The investment in additional capacity in Italy comes on top of Royal Unibrew's previous acquisition of Terme di Crodo in 2018. The Terme di Crodo plant, sold by the Campari Group, produces Royal Unibrew's local soft drinks: Lemonsoda, Oransoda and Lemonsoda Energy Activator.

Eliano Verardo, Managing Director of Birra Castello commented: “We have found in Royal Unibrew a solid buyer, who ensures continuity in terms of employment.” He added: “Thanks to the sale, Birra Castello will increase investments in its remaining brewery in Pedavena and focus on the distribution of the group's brands, whose sales have shown a constant increase".

See also our article Denmark’s Royal Unibrew rumoured to buy brewery in Italy from June 16th, 2023.