"After operating successfully for more than ten years as part of the Heineken group, Karlovacka Pivovara is continuing to operate as Heineken Croatia. All company data (its seat and address, personal identification number, bank accounts, etc.) remain the same, and the company will continue to follow the strategy of development of its most famous brand, Karlovacko beer," said the statement.
Heineken Croatia management board chair Branka Slaveska said that the change would in no way affect the company's employers or the future of its best known brand.
"The group makes it possible for its members, companies that it owns entirely, to make bigger investments as well as use all Heineken systems and tools which are already defined and protected by brand names. It is our goal not only to produce domestic brands but international ones as well," said Slaveska.
In that context, Heineken Croatia was this week given permission to start producing Amstel premium beer. The million euro investment has been launched and production could start in February.
Slaveska said the name Heineken itself guaranteed quality and would make it easier to export also the existing brands.
Slaveska said that the beer market dropped by six percent in the first ten months this year, but that Karlovacka Pivovara was the only brewery whose share in the domestic market had grown.
The company's annual drop in sales will be below the said six percent. The reasons for the decline are the current economic crisis, and bad weather, notably in July and August, Slaveska said, adding that the increase in the brewery's market share was owing to the timely launching of several new products.