Polish group Maspex is buying Czech liqueur maker Jan Becher – Karlovarska Becherovka (JBKB) from France’s Pernod Ricard, the companies announced yesterday, not disclosing the price.
The companies signed the sale contract today. The deal is expected to be completed by the end of June 2024. Maspex Group will become the owner of the Becherovka brand together with the production plant and warehouse in Karlovy Vary.
Jan Becher – Karlovarska Becherovka was founded as a family business in 1807 by the Becher family. Becherovka was registered as a trademark in 1922. It has been a joint stock company since 1994. In 2001, the privatisation process was completed and the company became the property of French group Pernod Ricard.
Maspex is the largest private company in the food sector in Poland and one of the largest in Central and Eastern Europe. Maspex head Krzysztof Pawinski said JBKB would strengthen the company’s position in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Becherovka currently ranks second in the herbal liqueur segment in the Czech Republic. It is very important for Maspex that it is a brand with a rich tradition, which has been producing continuously since 1807, Pawinski said.
Business partners will also benefit from the transaction, gaining access to a wider range of products, said Wioleta Czaja, Maspex head for the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The Czech and Slovak branches of the Maspex Group were established gradually from 1998. In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Maspex focuses on the production and sale of juices, lemonades and energy drinks. The main brands on the local markets include juices Relax and Caprio as well as energy drink Tiger. Since 2020, Maspex has also become the exclusive distributor of Nestea iced tea. Last year, Maspex’s portfolio was expanded to include alcoholic beverages under the Zubrowka brand.
In the Czech Republic, Maspex also owns a production plant in Veseli nad Luznici.
Maspex has nearly 70 brands in its portfolio and its products can be found by customers in more than 70 countries around the world. Among the best-known brands are Tymbark, Kubus, Lubella and Łowicz. Maspex’s sales in 2022 reached more than PLN14bn (Kc78.9bn).
Source: Maspex and CTK
