HEINEKEN Slovensko has announced it will be consolidating all of its production activities in Slovakia at its plant in Hurbanovo in order to save money on the slumping Slovak beer market.
The new policy means that on the heels of its closure of production facilities in Martin and Nitra, Heineken will be shutting down its Rimavská Sobota brewery, company spokesman Roman Krajniak told the SITA news agency.
"At the same time, the company will make significant administrative changes, move its headquarters, and launch several new projects to strengthen its leading position on the Slovak beer market," Krajniak added.
Heineken said that economic and tax factors as well as the weak Slovak beer market led to its decision.
The decision to close the Rimavská Sobota brewery and the other changes announced will cost the jobs of 95 employees of the brewery and 60 white-collar workers.
At the same time, Heineken announced a significant investment in expanding the capacity of the Hurbanovo brewery and malt house in 2006 and 2007.
Heineken Slovensko has invested over Sk5 billion in Slovakia over 10 years.
