Volfas Engelman

Coordinates: 54°53′09″N 23°55′38″E / 54.88583°N 23.92722°E / 54.88583; 23.92722

Volfas Engelman is an alcohol beverage producer in Kaunas, Lithuania.

The establishment of brewery „Volfas Engelman“ dates back to the 19 th century. Today the brewery produces beer, cider, alcoholic mixed drinks, kvass and energy drinks.

Today it is the only brewery in Lithuania in the name of which the surnames of its establishers have been written. In the brewery more than 230 people are working, since 2012 it has been headed by Marius Horbacauskas. The company is the second largest brewery in Lithuania.

Since 1999 Joint-stock Company „Volfas Engelman“ has belonged to Finnish „Olvi“ Company Group. “Olvi” was established in 1878 by brewer Williams Gideon Åberg and his wife Onni. At present it is the third largest producer of beer, cider and soft drinks in Finland.

Mission

„Volfas Engelman“ is creating and upholding responsible culture of beer consumption based on positive and open communication.

Vision

To be an attractive employer, business partner and the most booming brewery in Lithuania.

Values

HISTORY AND LITHUANIAN TRADITIONS: In creating the drinks of the supreme quality the brewery has been following its historic experience and traditions already since 1853. RESPONSIBILITY AND PROGRESS: We bravely assume responsibility for our actions and are encouraging progress in our activity. We expect this from our each employee and business partner. POSITIVENESS AND PARTNERSHIP: Our activity is based on positive, open cooperation which is useful for both parties. ATTENTION TO THE CONSUMER: Brewery „Volfas Engelman“ is creating real value for the society by expanding the culture of responsible beer consumption.

History

The history of the brewery goes back to 1853 when businessman Rafailas Volfas establishes a brewery in Kaunas city Vilijampole residential area. The business is taken over by his son Iseras Beras Volfas according to the name of which the brewery has been named. The enterprise becomes one of the first industrial breweries in the eastern region of the Baltic Sea.

In 1860 on the bank of the Nemunas river by the railway station brewery „Engelman“ starts operating. This brewery belonging to Ferdinandas Engelman in 1894 is bought by I. B. Volfas and A. Soloveicikas. The new owners leave the brewery name unchanged. Two breweries „I. B. Volfas“ and „Engelman“ are working in parallel. Their beer production is widely known beyond the limits of Kaunas province, earns the medals of international exhibitions and acquires recognition already at the end of the 19th century.

In 1918 after Lithuania‘s proclaiming independence the owners of „I. B. Volfas” and „Engelman“ who had withdrawn during the war to the depth of Russia return to the country. Brewery “Engelman” which had suffered during the war is being rapidly rebuilt. In 1927 the owners of breweries „I. B‘. Volfas“ and „Engelman“ temporizing to the formed complicated market conditions and aiming to reduce the production expenditure and increase the profit of the breweries amalgamated these enterprises to „Sujungtų alaus daryklų, salyklo fabrikų ir vaisvandenių dirbtuvių „I. B. Volfas-Engelman“ akcine bendrove“ („Joint Stock Company „I. B. Volfas – Engelman“ of Amalgamated Breweries, Malt Factories and Squash Shops“). The enterprise became the biggest beer producer and took up to 40% of the Lithuanian contemporary beer market. The new brewery is constantly updating the equipment and is the first in Lithuania to start applying artificial freezing in beer production. Till that time blocks of ice had been transported from the Nemunas river and cellared aiming to ensure freezing all year round.

Specially for the Exhibition of Lithuanian Agriculture and Industry of 1930 the brewery brews the dark „Parodos“ („Exhibition“) beer in which the company „I. B. Volfas-Engelman“ showroom was trading, then it won wide recognition. The brewery became renowned for „Pilzen“ beer, „Lietuviskasis porteris“ („Lithuanian Porter“), the strong porter „Imperial“, English beer „Double“ and other drinks. Squash, table water and cider were produced as well.

“J. B. Volfas-Engelman” has been among the sponsors of the new Vytautas the Great War Museum building construction, it has contributed to the erection of Vytautas the Great monument, supported the studies of gifted young people from poor families. The brewers of that time can be bravely named the real creators of the welfare of Lithuanian society. „I. B. Volfas-Engelman“ can be justly named the Kaunas legend and Beer Number One in the interwar Lithuania. In June of 1940 after the occupation of Lithuania by the Soviet Union the brewery is nationalized, the enterprise name not corresponding to the Soviet ideology is changed to „Raudonoji pašvaiste“ („The Red Glow“). During the war between Germany and Soviet Union and after the occupation of Lithuanian territory by the German army (in 1941-1944) the brewery for some time was called simply „Pasvaiste“ („Glow“). However, shortly it was renamed to „Perkunas“ („The Thunderer“). The brewery recovered the trading range it had occupied before the war, but the second Soviet occupation stopped its activity which was gaining momentum.

In 1944-1959 the enterprise was called „Raudonoji pašvaiste“ again. However, in 1959 after the forming of „„Kauno alkoholinių ir bealkoholinių gėrimų kombinatas“ („Kaunas Alcoholic and Soft Drinks Group of Enterprises“), the former „Engelman“ enterprise turned to “Gamykla Nr. 1“ (“Plant No 1“). The other Kaunas brewery (former „Ragutis“ of the interwar period located at Savanoriu avenue) was affiliated to it and named „Gamykla Nr. 2“ („Plant No 2“). Later the group of enterprises was re-organized and since 1967 was called Kaunas Beer Group of Enterprises „Ragutis“. In 1971 the group of enterprises was turned to Kaunas Beer Association „Ragutis“ which retained such name and structure till 1990. In the 80‘s and 90‘s of the 20th century the enterprise was reconstructed and updated. In the enterprises of Kaunas Beer Association „Ragutis“ beer, squash, kvass, baking yeast, barley malt, concentrate of bread kvass mash, dry beer yeast for medicine and vanilla sugar were produced. The plant located in Birstonas in which mineral water „Vytautas“ and „Birute“ were poured out also belonged to this association. After the restoration of Lithuania‘s independence company „Ragutis“ was awarded the status of Kaunas State Brewery. Brewery named „Gamykla Nr. 2“ till that time separates from the company and it is named „Zalsvytis. In 1994 brewery „Ragutis“ is privatized and reorganized to a joint-stock company.

At the beginning of 1997 51% of “Ragutis“ shares is acquired by Czech Company „Pilsner Urquell”. After two years the Czechs sell the owned shares of JSC „Ragutis“ to Estonian Beer Company „A. le Coq“ which is managed by Finnish company „Olvi Plc.“ At present 99.57% of the shares of JSC „Volfas Engelman“ belong to it, the remaining shares belong to the enterprise employees and private persons.

On 12 April 2011 the brewery recovered its historic name „Volfas Engelman“ which had always belonged to it.

During 1999-2017 period more than 50 million Euros were invested into the development, reconstruction of the brewery and the updating of the production processes.

In 2015 by connecting the adjacent land lots the historic territories were returned to the brewery. The brewery has expanded by 5 times.

In 2017 „Turbinu“ street (which had been named „Bravoro“ /”Brewery”/ before) was given the name „I. B. Volfo ir F. Engelmano“.

In 2017 the dream of the creative team was turned into reality. In the reconstructed first floor of the principal building a mini brewery in which new sorts of beer are born has been equipped. This creative- education space is named „Volfas Engelman Studija“ /”Volfas Engelman Studio”/. Here „I. B. Volfas-Engelman“ heritage objects are exhibited. The visitors can familiarize with the principal raw materials of beer production, to smell, taste them, to learn about beer wood and the significance of the cups when tasting different sorts of beer.

Brands

Works cited

• Vilma Akmenytė, Giedrė Milerytė. Nuo I.B.Volfo ir Engelmano iki Ragučio. - K.:Kopa, 2008. - 208 p.: iliustr. - ISBN 978-9955-772-06-4

References