Bitburger Braugruppe has sold Wernesgrüner Brewery to Carlsberg Germany. As of January 1, 2021 Carlsberg, will take over the location in the Vogtland region of Saxony including the Wernesgrüner brand. The decision for the sale is part of the strategic reorientation of the Bitburger Braugruppe and the resulting focus on the black beer brewery and the logistics location Bad Köstritz with the Köstritzer brand in Eastern Germany. During the sales negotiations, it was crucial for the family owned Bitburger Braugruppe that Carlsberg Germany, as the future owner of the brewery, showed a long-term development perspective for the location. 

Wernesgrüner Brauerei GmbH, Wernesgrün, Germany

The traditional company Wernesgrüner Brauerei GmbH, founded in 1436, is a German brewery in Wernesgrün in Vogtland, Saxony.

Bitburger Braugruppe GmbH, Bitburg, Germany 

The Bitburger Braugruppe is a German family business with about 1,800 employees. Company headquarters is located in Bitburg in the southern Eifel. To the group belong the Bitburger brewery in Bitburg (Rhineland-Palatinate), the König brewery in Duisburg (North Rhine-Westphalia), the Köstritzer black beer brewery in Bad Köstritz (Thuringia) as well as the Licher private brewery in Lich (Hesse). The group combines a portfolio of national and regional brands. The leading position in the gastronomy sector and strong partnerships with retailers are the cornerstones of its success. In about 90 countries of the world people drink the products of the Bitburger brewery group.

Carlsberg Deutschland GmbH, Hamburg, Germany

Carlsberg is one of the top 4 breweries in the world, Sells 114 million bottles of beer daily and has been based in Hamburg, Germany since 2004.

The IMAP team around Karl Fesenmeyer, Catharina Peters and Ulrich Keesen supported the Bitburger Braugruppe during the due diligence process.