January 13 (SeeNews) - Slovenian brewer Pivovarna Lasko Union (PLU) said on Friday it signed an agreement to sell the Sola and Zala soft drink brands to local company Nika Bev, owned by a Croatian investor.
With the sale of the brands, PLU aims to reduce production complexity and streamline operations, focusing on delivering sustainable growth in brewing and distribution, it said in a statement. PLU also concluded a long-term agreement with Nika Bev to continue the distribution of both Sola and Zala brands on the Slovenian market.
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According to data from Slovenia's trade register, the entire capital of Nika Bev is owned by Croatian citizen Nina-Christina Stanic, marketing manager at Croatian beverages company Stanic Group.
"The Stanic family has been a partner of PLU for many years in the distribution and production of Sola brand products in the Adriatic region. As a result, it is committed to the long-term development of both brands by ensuring continued excellent product quality for customers and consumers, which will enable it to strengthen its position as a beverage manufacturer," PLU said.
According to Slovenian media reports, PLU plans to relocate beer production to its factory in Lasko from due to the outdated equipment at the Ljubljana site. Filling of bottles already takes place exclusively in Lasko, and in early March, PLU plans to suspend the filling of barrels in Ljubljana.