Švyturys–Utenos Alus unites two of the strongest Lithuanian breweries. One is Svyturys (Lithuanian for lighthouse) - the oldest working brewery in Lithuania. The other is the modern and ambitious brewery Utenos Alus. For a decade Švyturys-Utenos Alus was part of Baltic Beverages Holding (BBH), but since 2008 Švyturys-Utenos Alus is solely owned by Carlsberg.    

Švyturys-Utenos Alus is market leader in Lithuania with a market share of 49 % of total Lithuanian beer market (2007, Lithuanian Breweries Association). The average beer consumption in Lithuania is 87 litres per person and it is considered a mature market. 

According to research by TNS Gallup, in 2004 Lithuanians considered Švyturys – Utenos Alus the strongest company in the country, and gave it a rating of 8.8 points out of 10. In 2003 and 2005 Švyturys-Utenos Alus was named Best Reputation Company in Lithuania. During 2007 Švyturys-Utenos Alus was awarded as the Best Image Company in the country and gained special award for the social responsibility activities and promoting social responsibility ideas in Lithuania.    

The company is well known as the major sponsor of Lithuanian National Basketball Team, who won the European Championships in 2003 and got European Championships Bronze awards in 2007.

Švyturys-Utenos Alus has been producing Carlsberg pilsner since year 2000. Carlsberg pilsner now accounts for 70% of the international premium beer segment in Lithuania and is growing in popularity.

 

Did you know that: 

  • If you ask for 'beer' in Lithuanian pub or restaurant the waiter will most likely bring you Švyturys. All other beer brands must be named to get them.
  • Švyturys still uses the old maturation technology krausening which is more than 800 years old.  
  • Among biggest Lithuanian breweries only Švyturys has old horizontal fermentation tanks, which allows Švyturys beer to mature as it was done hundred years ago.  
  • The whole coastal area along Klaipeda, where Švyturys is produced got the name “Švyturys Country” after series of successful advertising campaigns.  
  • Beeing one of the major sponsors of opera and ballet in Lithuania Švyturys gives prestigious Operos Švyturys awards annually for best opera and ballet artists of the year.

 

KEY DATES:

1784 Svyturys established
1977 Utenos established
1997 Utenos becomes part of BBH
2000 Carlsberg first produced in Lithuania
2001 Svyturys merges with Utenos and becomes part of BBH
2001 Name changed to Svyturys-Utenos Alus
2008 Carlsberg now own the breweries 100%
 

KEY FACTS:

Site: 2
Employees: 600
Consumption per person: 87 litres
 

CONTACTS:

Svyturys-Utenos Alus
Pakalnes g. 9,
LT-01112 Vilnius,
Lithuania

Tel: +370 5 2 397600

E-mail: Edmundas Virbickas, Carlsberg Brand Coordinator, edmundas.virbickas@sua.lt

 

Revised 2008