The production is growing and becoming more diverse.
The latest data from the Association of Breweries of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) show that beer is becoming more popular among Croats and especially among foreign tourists coming to the country, reports Poslovni.hr on 27 July 2017.
With the annual production of 3.4 million hectoliters of beer, Croatia is at the 22nd position in the European Union. However, according to an HGK analysis, the total annual consumption of beer in the Croatian market, which includes the consumption by foreign tourists, stands at around 80 litres per capita, which places Croatia at the eighth place in the Union. Without tourists, the consumption of beer would amount to about 64 litres per capita, and Croatia would be at the 20th position. At the top is the Czech Republic with 143 litres, followed by Austria and Germany with 105 litres.
Božica Marković, director of the Sector for Agriculture, Food Industry and Forestry of the HGK, says that beer consumption in Croatia demonstrates substantial seasonality. “The beer market analysis in Croatia shows that the industry is stable, healthy and prosperous, which provides a safe foundation for further growth. The beer industry in Croatia, directly and indirectly, employs around 28,000 people. One job in the sector opens up 13 additional jobs in related activities. With the growing trend of the opening of small breweries and significant investments in new brands, the industry is adapting to increasingly diverse consumer demand, resulting in an increased supply of beer during the tourist season,” said Marković.
In addition to six major industrial breweries in Croatia, the Croatian market also includes a growing trend of small or so-called craft breweries. There are currently about 30 active such breweries with a market share of about two percent. New products improve the image of the entire industry, which strengthens the potential of small and medium-sized businesses and ultimately results in rising employment trends.
Daruvarska Pivovara is the sixth largest brewery in Croatia, with the production of around 49,000 hectoliters per year. Krešo Marić from the brewery explains that they want to position themselves as an industrial craft brewery – producing high-quality beer, but at the same time using their technological and logistic capabilities to make beer available and affordable for consumers in the market.
“Since 2014, we have had in our offer the 5th Element beer. It is well-known that beer consists of four ingredients: water, malt, yeast and hops, while the fifth element is something special – love, tradition and the brewer. That is the reason why we have named our brand the 5th Element. This is the first ale type beer prepared in an industrial brewery in Croatia. Still, I understand that people have a hard time thinking about us as a craft brewery,” says Marić.
Translated from Poslovni.hr.
