The brewery Zlatý Bažant Inc., Hurbanovo recently began licensed production of the Czech beer Gambrinus. Based on a three year contract with the Czech Pilsner Urquell brewery, Zlatý Bažant will produce 80,000 hl of this beer annually, and the Czech brewery will secure 1,000 new selling outlets throughout the Czech Republic for Zlatý Bažant beer. Zlatý Bažant will not distribute the Czech beer. Gambrinus will be mostly produced from Slovak inputs, and in addition to the Dutch Amstel, it will be the second foreign brand produced by Zlatý Bažant.
Since Heineken entered the company 20 months ago - the Dutch brewery has a 67 percent share - production has increased 70 percent. It exports 15 percent of its output, and is the largest Slovak beer exporter to the Czech Republic (exported 30,000 hl of beer in 1996 increasing exports 50 percent this year).
Last year, it invested 230 million Sk, and since Heineken joined the company a total of 300 million Sk has been invested.
