End of an era: Bruch family brewery shuts its doors after 322 years
This marks the ultimate end of the Bruch family brewery. The traditional company from Saarbrücken, which had been operating for 322 years, has declared bankruptcy once again. Despite its owner's relentless efforts, it seems the only remaining asset might be the rights to the brand name.
6:21 AM EDT, July 29, 2024
According to portalspozywczy.pl, the district court in Saarbrücken appointed a bankruptcy trustee in response to the bankruptcy. Lawyer Stephan Hainz has already started his work and aims to assess the remaining value of the company's assets.
The end of the Bruch brewery: Years of struggling
Bruch Brewery was considered an iconic company in the Saar Basin region of Germany. The first serious issues emerged in 2018, and since then, the company has been insolvent multiple times due to the senior partner Thomas Bruch's tax debts, which reached six-figure amounts.
The company has faced two bankruptcy proceedings in the past six years, significantly reducing its workforce.
Critical efforts to save the brewery, founded in 1702, occurred three years ago. At that time, Lukas Bruch took over the company, running it as a GmbH. Shortly after, the company became insolvent once more.
The company had to sell the "Stiefel" restaurant at St. Johanner Markt in the heart of Saarbrücken. Additionally, the brewery, which had been the company's headquarters since 1900, was auctioned off.
The mounting problems eventually led to the relocation of beer production to Rhineland-Palatinate in 2023. However, according to reports, the Kirner Brewery, located about 62 miles northeast of Saarbrücken, continues brewing some Bruch beer varieties.
Lukas Bruch assured that he intended to continue the family business in the Saar Basin. Yet, the local newspaper "Saarbrücker Zeitung" suggests that now he only retains the rights to the brand name. Just before the last bankruptcy, Bruch Brewery employed only four workers.
