Vertical Seven Group (V7G) bought 20% of the company, according to the Official Gazette. Therefore, Alexandru Geamanu now owns 30.4%, Laurentiu Banescu 30.4%, Carmen Bristian 3.2%, Kruger Brent Printing House 16% and Vertical Seven Group 20%, according to the source cited. Laurentiu Banescu did not answer ZF’s questions about the deal by press time.
This is the first major transaction in the craft beer sector, a niche in which Fabrica de Bere Buna was a pioneer. Fabrica de Bere Buna, which operates the Zaganu brand, was established by Laurentiu Banescu and Alexandru Geamanu in 2013.
In 2021, the company’s revenue stood at RON5.3 million, making it one of the businesses in the craft beer sector that weathered the pandemic well, with Zaganu beers being sold in bars and specialty stores, as well as in major retail chains.
Besides the Zaganu beer in made in Prahova County, there is also a Zaganu beer bar on Calea Victoriei in Bucharest.
Craft beer accounts for less than 1% of the total beer market by volume in Romania, but this segment has seen significant growth in recent years as more and more small brewers have made their way into a sector dominated by foreign giants. Zaganu was one of the first independent brewers; there about 100 such businesses today.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)