Spendrups

Spendrups is a Swedish brewing and beverage group whose principal operating company is Spendrups Bryggeri AB. The business originated in 1923, when Danish brewer Louis Spendrup acquired Grängesbergs Bryggeri in Dalarna. It remained a family-controlled enterprise through successive generations and developed from a regional brewery into one of Sweden’s major suppliers of beer and other beverages. The company’s historical identity was initially tied to Grängesbergs Bryggeri. Louis Spendrup’s son Jens Fredrik Spendrup assumed control in 1950, and the next generation, brothers Jens and Ulf Spendrup, became chief executives in 1976. The brewery introduced a beer carrying the Spendrups name at Stockholm’s Operakällaren in 1979. Grängesbergs Bryggeri changed its corporate name to Spendrups Bryggeri AB in 1982, and the company was listed on the stock exchange in 1983. It later returned to private ownership when it withdrew from the stock market in 2001. Acquisitions broadened the group’s geographic reach and brand portfolio. In 1967, Spendrups acquired Mariestads Bryggeri. In 1989, it bought the brewing operations of Kooperativa Förbundet, including Wårby Bryggerier near Stockholm and Sollefteå Bryggeri, now associated with Zeunerts. The transaction also brought the Norrlands Guld brand into the group. Sollefteå’s original brewery was subsequently closed and sold, while the Wårby site was retained for a period. Spendrups expanded beyond brewing as Sweden’s regulatory and commercial environment changed. Following Sweden’s entry into the European Union and the 1995 abolition of the state wine and liquor import monopoly, the company entered wine import and distribution. In 2001, it added liquor distribution and began licensed production of Heineken. The portfolio was further extended in 2009 when Schweppes was added. The group’s activities have consequently included own-label beer, mineral water, soft drinks, cider and ready-to-drink products, as well as imported or licensed alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The group includes or has included subsidiaries and operating businesses such as Spring Wine & Spirits, Gotlands Bryggeri and Hellefors Bryggeri. Its brewery network comprises facilities in Grängesberg, Hällefors and Visby, as well as the OMAKA microbrewery in Stockholm. Key own brands include Spendrups, Norrlands Guld, Mariestads, Loka and Nygårda; licensed or distributed brands have included Heineken, Schweppes, El Coto and Cono Sur. Spendrups primarily serves the Swedish retail, restaurant and hospitality markets. Its products are sold through Sweden’s regulated retail alcohol channel, Systembolaget, and through restaurants, bars and other food-service accounts. Wikipedia reports that the group has approximately 900 employees and annual sales of approximately SEK 3 billion; those figures are approximate and are not assigned to a specific reporting year in the cited material. In 2015, the company was reported as Systembolaget’s second-largest beer supplier by deliveries, with a 21.6 percent share, while its combined share across beer, cider, ready-to-drink and non-alcoholic beverages was reported at 12.5 percent. Henrik Åström became chief executive in September 2024, succeeding Fredrik Spendrup.

Spendrups traces its history to 1923, when Danish brewer Louis Spendrup acquired Grängesbergs Bryggeri in Dalarna, Sweden. The brewery became the foundation of a family-controlled business that later adopted the Spendrups name. Louis Spendrup’s son Jens Fredrik took over in 1950, providing continuity between the company’s founding generation and its later expansion. The group began to broaden its industrial and geographic base with the acquisition of Mariestads Bryggeri in 1967. In 1976, Jens and Ulf Spendrup, sons of Jens Fredrik, became chief executives of Grängesbergs Bryggeri. A major branding step followed in 1979, when a beer named Spendrups was launched at Operakällaren in Stockholm. The corporate name changed from Grängesbergs Bryggeri AB to Spendrups Bryggeri AB in 1982, and the company was listed on the stock exchange in 1983. Expansion accelerated in 1989 through the purchase of Kooperativa Förbundet’s brewing operations. The transaction included Wårby Bryggerier on the outskirts of Stockholm and Sollefteå Bryggeri, now associated with Zeunerts. It also added Norrlands Guld to Spendrups’ portfolio. The Sollefteå facility where Norrlands Guld had originally been brewed was later closed and sold, while Wårby was retained for a period. Regulatory change in Sweden created opportunities beyond domestic brewing. Sweden’s entry into the European Union contributed to the abolition of the state wine and liquor monopoly in 1995, enabling Spendrups to import and distribute wine. In 2001, the company moved into liquor distribution and began licensed production of Heineken. That same year, Spendrups withdrew from the stock market, ending its period as a listed company. In 2009, Schweppes became part of the portfolio. The modern group operates as a diversified beverage house. Its activities include brewing, production and distribution of beer, mineral water, soft drinks, cider and ready-to-drink beverages, alongside wine and spirits import and distribution. The group has included Spring Wine & Spirits, Gotlands Bryggeri and Hellefors Bryggeri. Its brewery footprint includes Grängesberg, Hällefors and Visby, with the Stockholm microbrewery OMAKA representing a more recent small-scale brewing operation. Spendrups’ commercial model combines owned brands with licensed and imported products. Its own portfolio includes Spendrups, Norrlands Guld, Mariestads, Loka and Nygårda. Licensed or distributed brands have included Heineken, Schweppes, El Coto and Cono Sur. The group sells through Sweden’s regulated alcohol retail system, Systembolaget, as well as restaurants, bars and other hospitality channels. Wikipedia reports approximately 900 employees and approximately SEK 3 billion in sales, although the cited article does not specify a reporting period for those figures. In 2015, Spendrups was identified as Systembolaget’s second-largest beer supplier by deliveries. Henrik Åström became chief executive in September 2024, succeeding Fredrik Spendrup.

1. 2024Henrik Åström becomes CEO

   Henrik Åström became chief executive in September, succeeding Fredrik Spendrup.

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2. 2009Schweppes added to portfolio

   Schweppes joined the group’s portfolio of owned, licensed and distributed beverage brands.

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3. 2001Liquor distribution and Heineken licensing

   Spendrups began liquor distribution and licensed production of Heineken.

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4. 2001Delisting

   Spendrups withdrew from the stock market and became privately held again.

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5. 1995Wine import and distribution expansion

   Following regulatory change associated with Sweden’s EU entry, Spendrups entered wine import and distribution.

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6. 1989Kooperativa Förbundet brewing operations acquired

   Spendrups acquired Wårby Bryggerier, Sollefteå Bryggeri and associated brand assets, including Norrlands Guld.

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7. 1983Stock-market listing

   Spendrups became a publicly listed company.

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8. 1982Corporate name changes to Spendrups Bryggeri AB

   Grängesbergs Bryggeri AB adopted the Spendrups Bryggeri AB name.

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9. 1979Spendrups beer launches

   A beer carrying the Spendrups name was launched at Stockholm’s Operakällaren.

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10. 1976Jens and Ulf Spendrup become chief executives

    Brothers Jens and Ulf Spendrup became chief executives of Grängesbergs Bryggeri.

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11. 1967Mariestads Bryggeri acquired

    Spendrups acquired the large Mariestads Bryggeri in Mariestad.

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12. 1950Jens Fredrik Spendrup takes over

    Louis Spendrup’s son Jens Fredrik assumed control of the brewery.

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13. 1923Louis Spendrup acquires Grängesbergs Bryggeri

    Danish brewer Louis Spendrup acquired the Swedish Grängesbergs Bryggeri, establishing the business that later became Spendrups.

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A Swedish family-owned beverage group combining mainstream and premium beer brands with mineral water, soft drinks, cider, ready-to-drink products, wine, spirits and licensed international brands. Its market position is built around domestic brewing scale, a broad portfolio and distribution across Sweden’s retail and hospitality channels.

• SpendrupsBeer1979

  Spendrups is the group’s namesake beer brand. It was introduced in 1979 at Operakällaren in Stockholm and became the principal consumer-facing expression of the company after the corporate name changed from Grängesbergs Bryggeri to Spendrups Bryggeri. The brand represents the brewery’s core domestic beer business.

• Norrlands GuldBeer

  Norrlands Guld entered the Spendrups portfolio through the 1989 acquisition of Kooperativa Förbundet’s brewing operations. The brand was historically associated with brewing in Sollefteå, although the original Sollefteå facility was later closed and sold. It is one of Spendrups’ principal beer brands in Sweden.

• MariestadsBeer

  Mariestads is a beer brand connected with Mariestads Bryggeri, which Spendrups acquired in 1967. The acquisition brought an established regional brewery and its brand identity into the wider Spendrups group, helping diversify the company’s beer portfolio beyond its Grängesberg base.

• LokaMineral water

  Loka is one of Spendrups’ major non-alcoholic beverage brands. It sits within the group’s mineral-water portfolio and gives Spendrups a significant presence outside beer, complementing its alcoholic beverage and soft-drink operations.

• NygårdaSoft drinks

  Nygårda is a Spendrups-owned soft-drink brand. It forms part of the group’s non-alcoholic portfolio, alongside mineral water and other beverages, and supports the company’s ability to serve both retail and hospitality customers across multiple drink categories.

• HeinekenLicensed beer2001

  Heineken is a licensed brand produced by Spendrups in Sweden from 2001 according to the cited historical account. It illustrates the group’s strategy of combining its own Swedish brands with international licensing and distribution relationships.

• SchweppesSoft drinks2009

  Schweppes was added to Spendrups’ portfolio in 2009. The brand expanded the group’s presence in carbonated and mixer beverages and complemented its owned soft-drink and mineral-water products.

• Gotlands BryggeriMicrobrewery

  Gotlands Bryggeri is a microbrewery business within the Spendrups group, operating in Visby. It provides a distinct small-scale brewing platform within a group otherwise known for national distribution and larger brewery operations.

• OMAKAMicrobrewery

  OMAKA is Spendrups’ Stockholm microbrewery. It is part of the group’s multi-site brewing network and represents its presence in contemporary urban and small-batch brewing alongside the larger Grängesberg and Hällefors facilities.

• 2009Add Schweppes to the portfolioProduct launch

  Spendrups was extending its range of non-alcoholic and soft-drink offerings.

  What changed. Schweppes was added to the group’s product portfolio.

  Aftermath. The addition reinforced Spendrups’ role as a multi-category beverage supplier.

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• 2001Expand into liquor distribution and licensed productionStrategy

  Spendrups was broadening its beverage activities beyond beer and wine.

  What changed. The company began liquor distribution and licensed production of Heineken.

  Aftermath. The move increased the group’s exposure to imported, distributed and licensed beverage categories.

  Source
• 2001Return to private ownershipStrategy

  Spendrups had been publicly listed since 1983.

  What changed. The company withdrew from the stock market.

  Aftermath. Spendrups operated as a privately held, family-controlled group.

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• 1995Enter wine import and distributionStrategy

  Sweden’s regulatory environment changed following EU entry and the abolition of the state wine and liquor monopoly.

  What changed. Spendrups expanded into wine import and distribution.

  Aftermath. The company developed beyond brewing into a broader alcoholic-beverage distribution business.

  Source
• 1989Acquire Kooperativa Förbundet’s brewing operationsM&A

  Spendrups sought to expand its brewing footprint and brand portfolio in Sweden.

  What changed. The company acquired Wårby Bryggerier, Sollefteå Bryggeri and related brands, including Norrlands Guld.

  Aftermath. The deal strengthened Spendrups’ national position, although the Sollefteå brewery was later closed and sold while Wårby was retained for a period.

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• 1982Adopt the Spendrups corporate nameStrategy

  The business had launched a beer named Spendrups in 1979 and was developing a broader family identity beyond its historic Grängesbergs Bryggeri name.

  What changed. Grängesbergs Bryggeri AB changed its corporate name to Spendrups Bryggeri AB.

  Aftermath. The new name aligned the legal company with its increasingly prominent consumer brand.

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• 2024Spendrups names Henrik Åström as chief executive

  Henrik Åström became chief executive of Spendrups in September 2024, succeeding Fredrik Spendrup.

  Leadership change
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• 2009Spendrups adds Schweppes to its portfolio

  Schweppes was added to Spendrups’ product portfolio as part of the group’s broader beverage distribution and brand-partnership strategy.

  M&AProduct launch
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• 2001Spendrups begins liquor distribution and licensed Heineken production

  Spendrups expanded from brewing and wine activities into liquor distribution and licensed production of Heineken.

  Product launch
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• 2001Spendrups withdraws from the stock market

  The company left the public stock market and returned to private ownership.

  Other
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• 1989Spendrups acquires Kooperativa Förbundet brewing operations

  Spendrups purchased Kooperativa Förbundet’s brewing operations, including Wårby Bryggerier, Sollefteå Bryggeri and the Norrlands Guld brand.

  M&A
  Source

1. Spendrups