Hansa Borg Bryggerier
Norway's second-largest brewer and mineral water producer.
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Hansa Borg Bryggerier is a Norwegian firm that brews and distributes beer, bottled water, and soft drinks. It ranks as the country’s second-largest producer and seller of beer and mineral water, with regional brewery sites in Bergen, Sarpsborg, Kristiansand, and Olden.
The company was created in 1997 through the merger of Hansa Bryggeri and Borg Bryggerier. The Egenæss family, which had owned Borg since 1905, holds 75% of the shares. Other major shareholders are Sweden’s Spendrups Bryggeri AB and Denmark’s Royal Unibrew.
Its beer lineup includes the brands Hansa, Waldemars, Borg, and CB, along with Heineken and Clausthaler produced under license. In 1999, Hansa Borg bought Christianssands Bryggeri (CB), giving it nationwide reach for its three main beer brands and control of local markets in Hordaland, Østfold, and Southern Norway. In 2005, it acquired Olden Brevatn, a company that bottles drinking water from a glacier in Oldedalen.
In 2024, the company tried to enter Norway’s diet soda trend by becoming an official distributor of Faxe Kondi. However, it only sold the diet versions, not the regular ones, even though regular versions were imported and sold by the Normal store chain. It also mistakenly marketed the diet version as the “original,” and the distribution effort failed.
Quick Facts
- Country
- Norway
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Hansa Borg Bryggerier AS was founded in 1997 through a merger between Hansa Bryggeri and Borg Bryggerier. The Egenæss family, who had owned Borg since 1905, retained 75% control of the new company.
Other principal owners include Sweden's Spendrups Bryggeri AB and Denmark's Royal Unibrew. The company operates three regional breweries located in Bergen, Sarpsborg, and Kristiansand, as well as a facility in Olden. Its beer portfolio includes the brands Hansa, Waldemars, Borg, and CB, alongside licensed production of Heineken and Clausthaler.
In 1999, Hansa Borg acquired Christianssands Bryggeri (CB), which gave the company nationwide distribution for its three main beer brands and strengthened its control over local markets in Hordaland, Østfold, and Southern Norway. In 2005, it acquired Olden Brevatn, a company that produces drinking water from a glacier in Oldedalen. In 2024, the company attempted to enter Norway's diet soda trend by becoming an official distributor of Faxe Kondi, but only sold the diet versions and not the regular versions, despite competition from imports of the regular versions at the Normal store chain. They also incorrectly marketed the diet version as the 'original' version, and the distribution flopped.
Reader's Guide
Hansa Borg Bryggerier holds a significant position as Norway's second-largest brewery and mineral water company, a status achieved through strategic mergers and acquisitions. The 1997 merger of Hansa Bryggeri and Borg Bryggerier consolidated two historic brewing operations, while the 1999 acquisition of Christianssands Bryggeri expanded its reach to nationwide distribution and dominance in key regional markets. The 2005 purchase of Olden Brevatn added a glacier-water product to its portfolio. The company's ownership structure, with the Egenæss family holding a 75% stake since 1905, reflects long-standing family control.
Its licensed production of international brands like Heineken and Clausthaler demonstrates its role as a bridge between local and global beer markets. The 2024 attempt to distribute Faxe Kondi diet soda, though unsuccessful due to marketing missteps and competition, illustrates the company's ongoing efforts to diversify into soft drinks. Overall, Hansa Borg's legacy is defined by its regional brewing roots, its consolidation of Norwegian beer brands, and its continued relevance as a major beverage distributor in Norway.
More in Breweries of Scandinavia and the Low Countries
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Hansa Borg Bryggerier (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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