The industry flowered after 1989 mainly due to investments from international brewery groups. Polish breweries were developed and new technologies installed.
“After thirty years and PLN 13 billion investments, Poland’s beer industry represents a world-class level,” said Bartłomiej Morzycki, the general director of Polish Breweries.
Over 210 breweries comprise the brewing sector, all located in every voivodship. They come in different sizes – from microbreweries to beer plants producing over 200,000 hectoliters of beer a year. These combined make Poland the third largest brewery industry in Europe (after Germany and the UK).
After thirty years and PLN 13 billion investments, Poland’s beer industry represents a world-class level
The entire industry employs 9.3 thousand workers, in every age gap. These include people with the lowest qualifications and the elderly. The majority of large breweries are located in Eastern Poland, near towns such as Lublin, Łomża or Białystok.
Over 150,000 jobs
“The entire influence of the brewery industry on the work market in Poland reaches 157.5 thousand workplaces,” reports Irena Pichola, a Deloitte partner.
Poland’s hops plantations are located to the South-East. 90 percent of the hops used to craft Polish beer come from home plantations.
In 2017 beer comprised 13.4 percent of all food spending and 46.7 percent of alcohol spending. 64 percent of beer purchases occur in local and family shops, which has a direct impact on creating workplaces in trade.
64 percent of beer purchases occur in local and family shops
PLN 440 million went to local governments from income tax, social insurance contributions and local taxes. This money was generated by the brewery industry. For small administrations, breweries are an important source of income whose investments increase the quality of living for citizens.
“The Polish beer market is a mature and saturated one. We have a diverse sector which functions very well in all of Poland. There is a place for breweries of various sizes and production profiles. All of this has a stimulating effect on the economy,” Andrzej Olkowski, the chairman of the association of Polish regional breweries summarized.
