Beginning of a new era
The new era for Saku Brewery started in 1991 when a joint venture Baltic Beverages Holding (BBH) was established with Pripps brewery in Sweden and Hartwall factory in Finland, which acquired 75% holding in Saku Brewery.Reconstruction of the factory and replacement of equipment started and already in 1993 a new quality beer, Saku Originaal, which was based on the first market research in Estonia, was brought to the market in Estonia. The research showed that people wanted beer with a strong flavour bouquet the most. It could not be too bitter and had to be bottled in a 0.5 litre bottle and with a blue label.
1993 – Birth of Saku Originaal
Estonia’s first modern quality beer – Saku Originaal – was brewed. The one.
1994 – Birth of Rock, the legendary rebel
It was first brewed in the spring of 1994 as a special edition beer for a rock festival held that year. Nobody remembers much about the festival, but the success story of Rock continues.
1995 - Saku Brewery Ltd
In 1995, more than 100 years later, Saku Brewery once again became a public limited company. In the same year, Saku Originaal became the market leader in Estonia, which it continues to be today.
In 1996, trading of Saku shares started on Tallinn Stock Exchange. In order to gain control over the relatively empty market niches, alcohol-free beer was introduced to the Saku product assortment.
1997 – Bottles of the new era
In the spring of 1997 Saku Brewery came out with a new look for the beer bottles. The former squared labels were replaced with fresh oval ones. A new appearance was also given to the neck labels of the bottles. The former square label remained only on the suitably young and rebellious Saku Rock.
At the end of the same year, Saku Brewery submitted an application to the Tallinn Stock Exchange for listing the shares of the company in the secondary list of the stock exchange.
1998 - Saku Brewery Ltd is listed on Tallinn Stock Exchange
Since 1998 Saku Brewery shares are freely tradable in the secondary list of the Tallinn Stock Exchange. Before that, the shares of Saku Brewery were registered at the free market of the stock exchange.
1999 – Estonia’s first ice beer Saku On ICE is born
In 1999, Saku on Ice was introduced which laid ground for the segment of soft-tasting beers in Estonia and which achieved great popularity very quickly.
