Berentzen Group

Berentzen Group

History

2020

Goldkehlchen

By taking over Austrian premium cider brand Goldkehlchen, the Berentzen Group enters a new market segment.

2020

Start Berentzen – Vivaris Vertriebs GmbH

Spirits and non-alcoholic beverages of the Berentzen group are marketed together by one sales force.

2018

Thirst for Life

… becomes the new corporate claim of the Berentzen Group.

2017

Bond repayment

In October, the company completely repaid its corporate bond for EUR 50 million issued in 2012 upon maturity.

2016

Exit of Aurelius

Aurelius sold all its shares in Berentzen-Gruppe Aktiengesellschaft during the course of 2016. Since that time, most of the shares are widely held. 

2015

Conversion of shares

The non-voting preferred shares were converted into voting common shares. As a result, common shares are now the only class of shares at Berentzen-Gruppe Aktiengesellschaft.

2015

New concession partner Sinalco

In the core areas of northern and eastern Germany Vivaris, the soft drinks sector of Berentzen, takes the first concession in the brand's history of Sinalco.

2014

Acquisition of the Austrian Citrocasa GmbH

The Berentzen Group acquired Citrocasa GmbH (at that time: TMP Technic-Marketing-Products GmbH) headquartered in the Austrian city of Linz, thereby adding the fresh juice systems segment to its business activities. Citrocasa is a leading international supplier of fresh-pressed orange juice systems.

2012

Corporate Bond

Berentzen-Group places a corporate bond with a volume of EUR 50 million. The term is five years.

Due to high demand, the subscription period ends on the first day within a few hours.

2008

Change in the main shareholder

The financial investor AURELIUS, Munich, acquires approximately 75.1% of the ordinary shares of the Berentzen-Gruppe AG.

1998

Dethleffsen

For the year 1998/99, the Berentzen Group took over Dethleffsen, one of the main competitors in the German market. With the brands Bommerlunder, Hansen Rum, Springer Urvater, Echt Stonsdorfer and Dirty Harry, the product range is supplemented by new segments. Hence, Berentzen markets the most comprehensive range of all German providers.

1996

Brandenburgische Mineral-Quelle

Through the acquisition of a mineral spring in Grüneberg near Berlin, the sales territory for soft drinks was expanded in most parts of the North and East Germany.

1993

Conversion into a plc

With the conversion to a public limited liability company, the Berentzen Group creates the condition for IPO in order to support and finance long-term growth plans in relevant and appropriate form.

In June 1994, Berentzen shares were publicly placed at the stock exchanges in Frankfurt and Bremen.

1992

Doornkaat

Doornkaat was added to the brand portfolio of the Berentzen Group and the Berentzen Group acquires one of the most recognizable grain brands and strengthens its competence in the grain sector.

1990

Puschkin Vodka

The brand Puschkin Vodka is taken over from the company König & Schlichte. The well-known Vodka brand was being evolved into an umbrella brand in the mid 90s and had been one of the most successful brands in the 90s.

1988

Birth of Berentzen-Gruppe

The I.B. Berentzen merged with the distillery Pabst & Richarz to modern Berentzen Group. By the merger, the art of grain burner and wine burner brought together in one company. The newly formed company is No. 2 in the German spirits industry and will continue to grow.

1979

Setting up of export business

The success of the Apfelkorn resulted in only a short time to setting up its own export business.

1976

Introduction of Berentzen Apfelkorn

It was introduced to the market and became the best known product in the group. The "Schnapps Idea" of Dr. Hans and Friedrich Berentzen became the most successful product launch in the Spirits market since 1945 and made Berentzen a national provider of Spirits.

1960

Concession for Pepsi

Today's Vivaris acquires under its former name Emsland Getränke a concession for the bottling and distribution of Pepsi-Cola. By the end of the concession at the end of 2014 builds Vivaris distribution in twelve of the sixteen federal states and became the largest of the concessionaires.

1958

Foundation of Emsland-Getränke

The I.B. Berentzen opened up a new business, in which they formed their own bottling plant for non-alcoholic beverages in Haselünne. The former "Emsland Getränke" is known as Vivaris today.

1899

Berentzen vom alten Faß

"Berentzen Vom Alten Faß" had been one of the first registered trade marks for Spirits in Germany.

1758

Origin of the Berentzen Company in Haselünne

The minutes of visitation made by the Court of Haselünne in the year of 1758 for "Fuselbrenner", as it states in a historical record, 26 distilleries were listed,  including the distillery the Town Councilor Johann Bernhard Berentzen assumed shortly later. This oldest written documentation is considered as the hour of birth of the Berentzen Company.