Germany & Croatia: Owner of Germany�s Kaltenberg beer brand to build a brewery in Croatia

Germany's Koenig Ludwig International, the owner of the Kaltenberg beer brand, is opening a production plant in Croatia's Rijeka where it plans to invest 15 million euro ($17.6 million), Zagreb-based media reported.

Kaltenberg has been present on the Croatian market since 1994, producing beer under a licence, but is now constructing its own brewery in Rijeka, news portal Poslovni.hr reported, quoting Luitpold Prince of Bavaria, the company manager.

Rijeka was chosen as the location of the new plant based on its access to quality water and good transport connections with Germany.

The investment will include the construction of a medium-sized brewery, which will initially produce 30,000 hectolitres of beer annually, with plans for 100,000 hectolitres annually.

The first phase of the project is valued at 10 million euro, as an additional 5 million euro will be invested subsequently.

The brewery will produce a range of Bavarian style beers, including craft beers and a local lager.

The plant will initially employ some 50 people.