Ursus closes Cluj beer plant, after Azuga

Ursus Breweries, owner of the Ursus and Timişoreana brands, is closing the Cluj beer plant with an over 130-year history, the second production facility to be shut down by the company held by SABMiller in the last year and a half, with a total of 300 people being affected by these restructuring measures.

"The closing of the Cluj plant is a tough decision, but the difficult economic conditions and the consumption decline on the beer market have prompted us to take this step. Current economic forecasts remain pessimistic as to the market's revival on short and medium term. The current production capacity of Ursus Breweries in its four plants in Romania is higher than the market can take, given the current economic context," said Gary Whitlie, president of Ursus Breweries. Ursus Breweries also closed the Azuga beer plant six months after acquiring the plant's majority stake.