Bavarian brewery faces bankruptcy amid non‑alcoholic trend
The Bavarian brewery Olchinger has filed for bankruptcy in a Munich court due to mounting financial problems, reports "Münchner Merkur". However, according to the owners, another reason is the increasingly popular trend towards non-alcoholic beer.
The brewery, founded in 2016, was set to celebrate its tenth anniversary next year. The future of Olchinger Braumanufaktur remains uncertain.
Financial problems and changing drinking culture
Olchinger Braumanufaktur GmbH, located in the Fürstenfeldbruck district, is struggling with severe financial difficulties. As reported by "Münchner Merkur", the company has filed for bankruptcy in a Munich court.
Financial troubles have been mounting for years, mainly due to rising energy costs, a complicated reusable packaging deposit system, and declining interest in traditional beer.
Guido Amendt, managing director of the brewery, highlights the changing drinking culture as a key factor affecting the company's financial situation. "Beer has become a non-alcoholic product," Amendt stated in an interview with "Münchner Merkur".
While large breweries are investing in the production of non-alcoholic beers, Olchinger Braumanufaktur lacks the equipment needed for their production.
The bankrupt brewery will focus on direct sales
Despite declaring bankruptcy, production at the brewery will continue under the supervision of temporary receiver Hanns Pöllmann. As reported by "Süddeutsche Zeitung", the company plans to concentrate on direct sales, including at its beer garden and "Zwickelei" locale.
Both the management and the receiver hope that at least OBM Gastro- und Event-GmbH, associated with the brewery, will be able to continue operations, as hosting weddings and live events remains popular.
Owners: "We lost our child"
The bankruptcy affects not only the Fürstenfeldbruck region but also personally impacts the founders of the brewery. "We have lost our child," the owners said, as quoted by "Münchner Merkur".
It is noteworthy that Hanns Pöllmann, the current receiver, previously managed the bankruptcy of the nearby Maisacher brewery. The situation there began to improve after a new owner took over, which offers some hope for the future of Olchinger Braumanufaktur as well.
This is yet another company in the beer industry facing significant problems. In Germany, over the past five years, the number of breweries has decreased by 93 to 1,459. Both start-ups and traditional breweries are closing down.
A company that serves Heineken is going bankrupt
Recently, the engineering firm Taufkirchen - Banke GmbH, working with breweries such as Heineken and Paulaner, also declared bankruptcy. The company's services include brewhouses and various hop technologies.
The reasons for the bankruptcy include delays in order fulfilment due to poor economic conditions and a weak investment climate. The company is currently managed by a receiver who is seeking a new investor to save the business.
