Dear friends,
Begining of the industrial development in Bosnia and Herzegovina started with the opening of Sarajevo brewery in 1864. Sarajevo brewery was the only European beer company to keep continued production in the periods of two empires: during the Otoman empire and the Austro-hungarian monarchy. By the end of 19th century, production at the Sarajevo brewery reached 22000 hl, prior the First World War production was at 116000 hl and in 1916 – it has climbed to 150000 hl. From 1965 to 1980, Sarajevo brewery has recorded a steady growth that dropped in period from 1980 to 1984.
I took over the Sarajevo brewery leadership in 1984. Steady growth during the following years reached from 299000 hl to 784000 hl in 1991. Agression on Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 to 1995 did not haltered the production and our natural water wells provided much needed clean water for the Sarajevo population. Latest war created damages to Sarajevo brewery esteemated 20 million dollars.
From 1995 to 2009, Sarajevo brewery strategic focus was to rebuild damages and to modernize company for what we invested over 80 million Euros. Today, Sarajevo brewery uses most modern technology combined with untouched traditional roots of water quality and tehnological processes.
In 1996, we have installed line producing concentrated juices and can filling. Iin 1997, we constructed facilities for filling the non-alchocolic beverages as well as PET packing
with capacity for 12000 bottles / h. In 1998, we signed three year contract with Coca-Cola to service their production. From 1998 to 2002 Sarajevo brewery modernized our beer production line to „state of the art“ technology. In 2002, we signed an agreement with PepsiCo producing lines of refreshing and nonalcoholic drinks from Pepsi's program.
Today, Sarajevo brewery production has climbed significantly producing 800000 hl of beer and 1.000 000 hl of nonalcoholic and refreshing beverages per year.
Sarajevo beer has reached number of countries gaining more and more recognitions daily in Austria, Australia, Croatia, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Kuwait, Libya, Slovenia, USA and others. Soon enough, number of other countries enjoying our superb beer will be added to this list.
I am looking forward to the future and more exciting news from our company.
Hilmo Selimovic
CEO and Chairman of the Board
