FDBusiness.com

Global brewer Carlsberg will concentrate its beer production in Switzerland at its main brewery at Rheinfelden and its site in Fribourg will close down by June 2011. The move is part of the ongoing optimisation of the production network across the Carlsberg Group.

Volume is being transferred from Switzerland to the brewery in Obernai in France, which became part of the Carlsberg Group following the acquisition of Brasseries Kronenbourg in 2008. During recent years, Feldschlosschen, Carlsberg’s Swiss business, has been producing below its capacity. With volume moving to France, overcapacity will become even more significant. Consequently, Feldschlosschen has decided to close the brewery in Fribourg and concentrate production in Rheinfelden.

All 75 affected employees in Fribourg will either be offered alternative employment within Feldschlosschen or will retire. The micro brewery Valaisanne in Sion, which has 10 employees, will be unaffected.

Feldschlosschen will now begin discussion with the City of Fribourg about the future use of the brewery site in central Fribourg.