Stumbras
Encyclopedia
AB Stumbras is the oldest and largest producer of strong alcoholic drinks in Kaunas
, Lithuania
. Company
began its operations in 1906. "Stumbras" is also the largest exporter of strong alcoholic beverages and one of the biggest taxpayers in Lithuania. Company's most famous brands include "Lithuanian vodka" (vodka
), "999" (bitter
), "Gloria" (brandy
), "Stumbro Starka" (bitter), "Krupnikas" (liqueur
), "Poema" (liqueur) and others. The company name translates as Wisent
.
. The law was expected to increase budget revenues and to improve the quality of produced vodka. The government of Kaunas
acquired suitable plot of land in 1903 for a high price of 52,200 Russian ruble
s. The buildings were finished and production started at the end of 1906. The official name of the company was "Kazionyj Nr.1 vinyj očistnyj sklad" (State wine warehouse No. 1). City's name was later included in the title. The site included an electric power station
, charcoal burner (for filtration purposes), canalization, evaporation heating, three-dimensional water supply system, six artesian wells, even a railway connection was made available.
occupied Lithuania
and forbade production of strong alcohol. The main building was converted into public bathhouse
. After the war, cisterns were used by the Lithuanian state to keep its spirits reserves and by the electric power station to keep oil
and kerosene
. The warehouse of the factory belonged to the war commissariat.
were gradually gaining attention. Around 1921–1922 the company received large investments to rebuild and modernize the factory. The production of strong alcoholic drinks was monopolized at the time, which resulted in large portion of income to the state
budget
.
. In 1975 three local spirit breweries of Atanavas, Balbieriškis ir Šilutė
were merged into the company and it became known as "Stumbras".
MG Baltic, as of December 2008 owned 94.9% of company's shares. After the privatization
, the company underwent management and organizational reforms, including spun off of the bioethanol plant in Šilutė. In 2006 and 2007 company introduced several new vodka and brandy products to the market
. Increasing sales of these new products and growing export
abroad resulted in significant growth in sales volume (47.3% in 2007) and net profit
s (51.4% in 2007). However, 2008 saw decreases in sales and profits with share price dropping from near 14 litas at the end of 2007 to around 4 litas in beginning of 2009.
In spring of 2010 "Stumbras" together with the Lithuanian institute of history started a project to commemorate 600th anniversary of Battle of Grunwald
. The aim of the project is to create biggest mock up model of the battle, which will be 20 sq. meters.
"Prodexpo 2010" (Moscow, Russia) – bitter "999" was named "Prodexpo Star", "Lithuanian vodka" Gold received gold
medal
award
"Wine & Spirits WSWA 2010" (Las Vegas
, USA) – "Lithuanian vodka" Gold received silver
medal award
"Drinks International Vodka Challenge 2009" (United Kingdom) - "Lithuanian vodka" received silver medal award
"Prodexpo 2008" (Moscow, Russia) – "Lithuanian vodka" Gold was named "Prodexpo Star"
In 2007 liqueur "Krupnikas" and bitter "999" were included into the list of Lithuanian Culinary Heritage
"Prodexpo 2007" (Moscow, Russia) – "Stumbro Šimtmečio" received gold medal award
"San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2006" (San Francisco, USA) – bitter "999" received double gold medal award
"San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2006" (San Francisco, USA) – "Lithuanian vodka" Original received gold medal award
"San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2006" (San Francisco, USA) – "Lithuanian vodka" Gold received gold medal award
"Beverage Testing Institute 2005" (Chicago
, USA) – "Lithuanian vodka" Gold received gold medal award
was opened in Kaunas. In the museum visitors can learn about history of culture
of alcohol consumption and production of strong alcoholic beverages in Lithuania
. Visitors also can learn about history of "Stumbras" factory – a century old buildings, archive
documents and photos.
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. Company
Company
A company is a form of business organization. It is an association or collection of individual real persons and/or other companies, who each provide some form of capital. This group has a common purpose or focus and an aim of gaining profits. This collection, group or association of persons can be...
began its operations in 1906. "Stumbras" is also the largest exporter of strong alcoholic beverages and one of the biggest taxpayers in Lithuania. Company's most famous brands include "Lithuanian vodka" (vodka
Vodka
Vodka , is a distilled beverage. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol with traces of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made by the distillation of fermented substances such as grains, potatoes, or sometimes fruits....
), "999" (bitter
Bitters
A bitters is an alcoholic beverage that is flavored with herbal essences and has a bitter or bittersweet flavor. There are numerous brands of bitters that were formerly marketed as patent medicines but are now considered to be digestifs, rather than medicines...
), "Gloria" (brandy
Brandy
Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
), "Stumbro Starka" (bitter), "Krupnikas" (liqueur
Liqueur
A liqueur is an alcoholic beverage that has been flavored with fruit, herbs, nuts, spices, flowers, or cream and bottled with added sugar. Liqueurs are typically quite sweet; they are usually not aged for long but may have resting periods during their production to allow flavors to marry.The...
), "Poema" (liqueur) and others. The company name translates as Wisent
Wisent
The wisent , Bison bonasus, also known as the European bison or European wood bison, is a species of Eurasian bison. It is the heaviest surviving land animal in Europe; a typical wisent is about long, not counting a tail of long, and tall. Weight typically can range from , with an occasional big...
.
Tsarist Russia
Origins of "Stumbras" is related to a 1894 law on monopolizing alcohol production by state-owned enterprises in the Russian EmpireRussian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
. The law was expected to increase budget revenues and to improve the quality of produced vodka. The government of Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
acquired suitable plot of land in 1903 for a high price of 52,200 Russian ruble
Ruble
The ruble or rouble is a unit of currency. Currently, the currency units of Belarus, Russia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria, and, in the past, the currency units of several other countries, notably countries influenced by Russia and the Soviet Union, are named rubles, though they all are...
s. The buildings were finished and production started at the end of 1906. The official name of the company was "Kazionyj Nr.1 vinyj očistnyj sklad" (State wine warehouse No. 1). City's name was later included in the title. The site included an electric power station
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
, charcoal burner (for filtration purposes), canalization, evaporation heating, three-dimensional water supply system, six artesian wells, even a railway connection was made available.
German rule
The company was enlarged and modernized several times until 1914. During World War I GermansGermans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
occupied Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
and forbade production of strong alcohol. The main building was converted into public bathhouse
Public bathing
Public baths originated from a communal need for cleanliness. The term public may confuse some people, as some types of public baths are restricted depending on membership, gender, religious affiliation, or other reasons. As societies have changed, public baths have been replaced as private bathing...
. After the war, cisterns were used by the Lithuanian state to keep its spirits reserves and by the electric power station to keep oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
and kerosene
Kerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
. The warehouse of the factory belonged to the war commissariat.
Between the wars
In 1918, when Lithuania regained its independence, ideas to rebuild the factoryFactory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
were gradually gaining attention. Around 1921–1922 the company received large investments to rebuild and modernize the factory. The production of strong alcoholic drinks was monopolized at the time, which resulted in large portion of income to the state
State (polity)
A state is an organized political community, living under a government. States may be sovereign and may enjoy a monopoly on the legal initiation of force and are not dependent on, or subject to any other power or state. Many states are federated states which participate in a federal union...
budget
Budget
A budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
.
Soviet rule
When Lithuania was occupied by Soviets, all factories and establishments were nationalized. During the Soviet times, the factory continued to operate. In 1948 soviets decided to merge Stumbras factory with su M. Velykis liquor factory thus making this new establishment a biggest alcohol producer ir Lithuanian SSRLithuanian SSR
The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Lithuanian SSR, was one of the republics that made up the former Soviet Union...
. In 1975 three local spirit breweries of Atanavas, Balbieriškis ir Šilutė
Šilute
Šilutė is a city in the south of the Klaipėda County, Lithuania. The city was part of the Klaipėda Region and ethnographic Lithuania Minor. Šilutė was the interwar capital of Šilutė County and is currently the capital of Šilutė district municipality.-Name:...
were merged into the company and it became known as "Stumbras".
Independent Lithuania and privatization
"Stumbras" was a state-owned company until 2003. UAB "Mineraliniai vandenys", a subsidiary of holding companyHolding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
MG Baltic, as of December 2008 owned 94.9% of company's shares. After the privatization
Privatization
Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...
, the company underwent management and organizational reforms, including spun off of the bioethanol plant in Šilutė. In 2006 and 2007 company introduced several new vodka and brandy products to the market
Market
A market is one of many varieties of systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby parties engage in exchange. While parties may exchange goods and services by barter, most markets rely on sellers offering their goods or services in exchange for money from buyers...
. Increasing sales of these new products and growing export
Export
The term export is derived from the conceptual meaning as to ship the goods and services out of the port of a country. The seller of such goods and services is referred to as an "exporter" who is based in the country of export whereas the overseas based buyer is referred to as an "importer"...
abroad resulted in significant growth in sales volume (47.3% in 2007) and net profit
Profit (accounting)
In accounting, profit can be considered to be the difference between the purchase price and the costs of bringing to market whatever it is that is accounted as an enterprise in terms of the component costs of delivered goods and/or services and any operating or other expenses.-Definition:There are...
s (51.4% in 2007). However, 2008 saw decreases in sales and profits with share price dropping from near 14 litas at the end of 2007 to around 4 litas in beginning of 2009.
In spring of 2010 "Stumbras" together with the Lithuanian institute of history started a project to commemorate 600th anniversary of Battle of Grunwald
Battle of Grunwald
The Battle of Grunwald or 1st Battle of Tannenberg was fought on 15 July 1410, during the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War. The alliance of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, led respectively by King Jogaila and Grand Duke Vytautas , decisively defeated the Teutonic Knights, led...
. The aim of the project is to create biggest mock up model of the battle, which will be 20 sq. meters.
Awards
Awards"Prodexpo 2010" (Moscow, Russia) – bitter "999" was named "Prodexpo Star", "Lithuanian vodka" Gold received gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
medal
Medal
A medal, or medallion, is generally a circular object that has been sculpted, molded, cast, struck, stamped, or some way rendered with an insignia, portrait, or other artistic rendering. A medal may be awarded to a person or organization as a form of recognition for athletic, military, scientific,...
award
Award
An award is something given to a person or a group of people to recognize excellence in a certain field; a certificate of excellence. Awards are often signifiedby trophies, titles, certificates, commemorative plaques, medals, badges, pins, or ribbons...
"Wine & Spirits WSWA 2010" (Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, USA) – "Lithuanian vodka" Gold received silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
medal award
"Drinks International Vodka Challenge 2009" (United Kingdom) - "Lithuanian vodka" received silver medal award
"Prodexpo 2008" (Moscow, Russia) – "Lithuanian vodka" Gold was named "Prodexpo Star"
In 2007 liqueur "Krupnikas" and bitter "999" were included into the list of Lithuanian Culinary Heritage
"Prodexpo 2007" (Moscow, Russia) – "Stumbro Šimtmečio" received gold medal award
"San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2006" (San Francisco, USA) – bitter "999" received double gold medal award
"San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2006" (San Francisco, USA) – "Lithuanian vodka" Original received gold medal award
"San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2006" (San Francisco, USA) – "Lithuanian vodka" Gold received gold medal award
"Beverage Testing Institute 2005" (Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, USA) – "Lithuanian vodka" Gold received gold medal award
"Stumbras" museum
In the end of 2009, "Stumbras" museumMuseum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
was opened in Kaunas. In the museum visitors can learn about history of culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
of alcohol consumption and production of strong alcoholic beverages in Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. Visitors also can learn about history of "Stumbras" factory – a century old buildings, archive
Archive
An archive is a collection of historical records, or the physical place they are located. Archives contain primary source documents that have accumulated over the course of an individual or organization's lifetime, and are kept to show the function of an organization...
documents and photos.