Two brewers halted production in H1

Ghimpati brewery owned by Vlase Impex company of Ialomita county, and Vega brewery held by Galati-based Vega 93 company controlled by businessman Corneliu Istrate were closed in the first half. “Taking into account the volumes of Bere Azuga, also closed in the first half of this year, small and medium-sized brewers in the first six months registered 114,000 hectolitre lower production than in the first half of 2008,” stated Vifor Versescu, general manager of the Romania’s Independent Brewers Association (PSIPBR). He added that in the wake of these closures, around 250 people lost their jobs. Both in the case of Ialomita company and that of Galati, breweries were secondary businesses. Small and medium-sized brewers were the hardest hit during this period, generating sales of around 330,000 hectolitres, down 18% from the first half of 2008.