Kőbánya civilian brewery and St. Stephen's babyfeed ltd
MKVM. [KD_1980.561.1.]
The Kőbánya Civil Serfőző Rt. was founded in 1894 by Vilmos Freund of Tószeg, with the participation of the Hungarian Counting and Exchange Bank and the Hungarian Commercial Bank of Pest, on the 16 200 m2 on a plot of land. The company's share capital was 1 500 000 Frt, and its board of directors consisted of Dr. Gusztáv Weisz, Gyula Posch, Miksa Beck of Madarasi, Knight Miklós Scavani, Gyula Thausing, Arthur Bischitz, József Lukács and Zsigmond B. Geiger. According to the first plans, the plant, which would draw water from its own wells, would have been capable of producing 50-100 000 hectolitres per year with its own malting, malt cellar, etc. within the factory. In 1894, production was 44 564 hl, but by 1895, the 122 490 hl of beer boiled exceeded the capacity of the factory, and further construction work was carried out to build a capacity of 150 000 hl.
The products produced by the Főzde were Polgársör, Szent István Sör, Királysör, Kőbányai barátsör and Kőbányai Kiviteli Márciusi Sör, but in addition to the beers, the company also sold its own malt on foreign markets under the name Szent István Maláta. Their products were awarded the Diploma of Distinction in Budapest in 1896 and in Vienna in 1906, as well as the Grand Prix in Paris in 1900, in Florence in 1904, in Naples in 1905, in London in 1908 and in Turin in 1911.
In 1900, they bought the King's Brewery in Kőbánya, which they continued to operate under the name of Kőbánya Malting Factory Ltd., so that they could use the space freed up in the factory (their former malting plant) for brewing. In 1901, the mild winter made it necessary to set up an ice factory, since at that time ice was the only way to create the temperature needed for the maturation and long-term storage of beer, just as traders and skaters cooled their beers with ice stored from the winter.
The production volume exceeded 150,000 hectolitres for the first time in 1904, and the company also began to expand, starting with the purchase of land to build a depot in Rijeka, Osijek, Zimony and Oradea. This was followed by Zombor in 1907, Miskolc in 1912 and Novi Sad and Monor in 1913.
The war had a profound effect on the company, as nearly 50 of their officers and 250 workers were taken away to serve in the army, while a general malting ban came into force on 6 September 1916. As a result, the company transferred its capital to the St. Stephen's Malting Company, which was built across the street and merged with it in 1922. The joint company's best-selling products were Szitmaltin, Maltosit and Demaltos, which may have been similar to the non-alcoholic malt beverages available today.
In addition to this, he also participated in other company foundations, such as the takeover of the Lechner Brickworks Rt in Krebs in 1919, or in October of the same year in the Fabbrica di Birra Littorale S.A., i.e. the Tengermelle Serfőzde Rt in Fiume, of which the company owned 77% of the shares. The latter company took over Polgári Serfőzde's interests in Rijeka, which were very substantial, given that the supply of hotels in Rijeka and Hungarian merchant ships also strengthened Polgári Serfőzde's market share. As regards the market, it should be noted that the cartel agreements between the large brewers systematically divided it up among themselves and set precise limits and requirements not only in this respect but also in the quantity and quality of the beers brewed. In 1921, for example, 47,81 tt3 t of the market was in the hands of Dreher, 251 tt3 t of the market was in the hands of the Share, 18,51 tt3 t of the market was in the hands of Polgári and 8,71 tt3 t of the market was in the hands of the Budapest Brewery; and, for example, it was stipulated that 'in order to preserve the character of the beer of Kőbánya at all times, the provision that no beer shall be brewed with a weakness of more than 12° (± 0,5°) shall be reinstated'. But they also had minimum prices for the beers sold, for example, in 1915 the minimum price for a pale ale was 25 pfennigs and for a cask 42 crowns 40 pfennigs.
After the war, the Polgári Serfőzde tried to expand its operations by new foundations and mergers, and thus the Nyugatmagyarországi Serfőzde és Malátagyár Rt. was founded in Sopron, the Kőszegi Serfőzde és Malátagyár Rt. in Kőszeg, the Pannónia Szálló Rt. in Sopron, the Déli Vasút Spa and Trade Rt. in Budapest. They merged with the Székesfehérvár and Fejérmegyei innkeepers, coffee and beverage millers' cooperative beer brewery and trading company, and in connection with the latter they started coffee production, producing Szent István malt coffee, Szent István chicory and Családi coffee blend. But they also produced chemical products such as Lanolin, Baby and Old Lavender soaps.
The profitability of the company was unquestionable. The profit exceeded 100 000 forints in 1895. In 1904, the profit reached 300,000 crowns, in 1907 400,000, in 1909 500,000, in 1911 600,000, in 1913 700,000, and in 1918 almost one and a half million crowns. After the inflation of the koruna and its stabilisation, their profit in 1925 was 520,310 pence, reaching 741,919 pence in 1929. However, the economic crisis had an impact on their profits, but even in the worst years they did not fall below 100 000 pence and in 1939 they exceeded 700 000 again.
The company, which was successful in every respect, was eventually made impossible by the communist takeover and nationalisation, as it had grown so large that it was inevitable that it would be broken up in the era of the National Companies. This is how the Kőbánya Sugar Factory NV, the Kőbánya Breweries NV, the Soap Factory NV, the Wine Industry NV and the Vegetable Oil and Detergent Industry NV were created.
Kulich Julianna - Hegedüs Krisztián - Katona Csaba - Maczó Balázs - Török Róbert Török (2018). From the brewer to the brewery. The Hungarian Museum of Trade and Hospitality.
HU-MNL-OL-Z 762-H-54. Copies of the texts of the letters of commendation won at various exhibitions held between 1896 and 1911, 1937 (Item)
HU-MNL-OL-Z 762-G-50. Beer transport and production statistics, 1903-1918 (Item)
HU-MNL-OL-Z 762-G-49. Beer transport statistics, 1894-1903 (Item)
HU-MNL-OL-Z 762-G-40. Reports, statements, 1911-1921 (Item)
HU-MNL-OL-Z 762-C-10. Notebooks of the cartel agreements between breweries in Hungary, records, 1904-1921 (Item)
HU-MNL-OL-Z 762-A-2/2. Business reports and final accounts, 1893-1922 (Item)
HU-MNL-OL-Z 762-A-2/1. Business reports and final accounts, 1893-1922 (Item)
Founded in 1894
Date of cessation: 1948
Founders: Vilmos Freund of Tószeg
Determinant drivers are not set
Main activity not set
Main products are not set
Seats are not configured
Locations are not set
Main milestones are not set
Author: by Dr. Márton Pelles
Founded in 1894
Founders: Vilmos Freund of Tószeg
Determinant drivers are not set
Main activity not set
Main products are not set
Seats are not configured
Locations are not set
Main milestones are not set
Author: by Dr. Márton Pelles
Kőbánya civilian brewery and St. Stephen's babyfeed ltd
MKVM. [KD_1980.561.1.]
The Kőbánya Civil Serfőző Rt. was founded in 1894 by Vilmos Freund of Tószeg, with the participation of the Hungarian Counting and Exchange Bank and the Hungarian Commercial Bank of Pest, on the 16 200 m2 on a plot of land. The company's share capital was 1 500 000 Frt, and its board of directors consisted of Dr. Gusztáv Weisz, Gyula Posch, Miksa Beck of Madarasi, Knight Miklós Scavani, Gyula Thausing, Arthur Bischitz, József Lukács and Zsigmond B. Geiger. According to the first plans, the plant, which would draw water from its own wells, would have been capable of producing 50-100 000 hectolitres per year with its own malting, malt cellar, etc. within the factory. In 1894, production was 44 564 hl, but by 1895, the 122 490 hl of beer boiled exceeded the capacity of the factory, and further construction work was carried out to build a capacity of 150 000 hl.
The products produced by the Főzde were Polgársör, Szent István Sör, Királysör, Kőbányai barátsör and Kőbányai Kiviteli Márciusi Sör, but in addition to the beers, the company also sold its own malt on foreign markets under the name Szent István Maláta. Their products were awarded the Diploma of Distinction in Budapest in 1896 and in Vienna in 1906, as well as the Grand Prix in Paris in 1900, in Florence in 1904, in Naples in 1905, in London in 1908 and in Turin in 1911.
In 1900, they bought the King's Brewery in Kőbánya, which they continued to operate under the name of Kőbánya Malting Factory Ltd., so that they could use the space freed up in the factory (their former malting plant) for brewing. In 1901, the mild winter made it necessary to set up an ice factory, since at that time ice was the only way to create the temperature needed for the maturation and long-term storage of beer, just as traders and skaters cooled their beers with ice stored from the winter.
The production volume exceeded 150,000 hectolitres for the first time in 1904, and the company also began to expand, starting with the purchase of land to build a depot in Rijeka, Osijek, Zimony and Oradea. This was followed by Zombor in 1907, Miskolc in 1912 and Novi Sad and Monor in 1913.
The war had a profound effect on the company, as nearly 50 of their officers and 250 workers were taken away to serve in the army, while a general malting ban came into force on 6 September 1916. As a result, the company transferred its capital to the St. Stephen's Malting Company, which was built across the street and merged with it in 1922. The joint company's best-selling products were Szitmaltin, Maltosit and Demaltos, which may have been similar to the non-alcoholic malt beverages available today.
In addition to this, he also participated in other company foundations, such as the takeover of the Lechner Brickworks Rt in Krebs in 1919, or in October of the same year in the Fabbrica di Birra Littorale S.A., i.e. the Tengermelle Serfőzde Rt in Fiume, of which the company owned 77% of the shares. The latter company took over Polgári Serfőzde's interests in Rijeka, which were very substantial, given that the supply of hotels in Rijeka and Hungarian merchant ships also strengthened Polgári Serfőzde's market share. As regards the market, it should be noted that the cartel agreements between the large brewers systematically divided it up among themselves and set precise limits and requirements not only in this respect but also in the quantity and quality of the beers brewed. In 1921, for example, 47,81 tt3 t of the market was in the hands of Dreher, 251 tt3 t of the market was in the hands of the Share, 18,51 tt3 t of the market was in the hands of Polgári and 8,71 tt3 t of the market was in the hands of the Budapest Brewery; and, for example, it was stipulated that 'in order to preserve the character of the beer of Kőbánya at all times, the provision that no beer shall be brewed with a weakness of more than 12° (± 0,5°) shall be reinstated'. But they also had minimum prices for the beers sold, for example, in 1915 the minimum price for a pale ale was 25 pfennigs and for a cask 42 crowns 40 pfennigs.
After the war, the Polgári Serfőzde tried to expand its operations by new foundations and mergers, and thus the Nyugatmagyarországi Serfőzde és Malátagyár Rt. was founded in Sopron, the Kőszegi Serfőzde és Malátagyár Rt. in Kőszeg, the Pannónia Szálló Rt. in Sopron, the Déli Vasút Spa and Trade Rt. in Budapest. They merged with the Székesfehérvár and Fejérmegyei innkeepers, coffee and beverage millers' cooperative beer brewery and trading company, and in connection with the latter they started coffee production, producing Szent István malt coffee, Szent István chicory and Családi coffee blend. But they also produced chemical products such as Lanolin, Baby and Old Lavender soaps.
The profitability of the company was unquestionable. The profit exceeded 100 000 forints in 1895. In 1904, the profit reached 300,000 crowns, in 1907 400,000, in 1909 500,000, in 1911 600,000, in 1913 700,000, and in 1918 almost one and a half million crowns. After the inflation of the koruna and its stabilisation, their profit in 1925 was 520,310 pence, reaching 741,919 pence in 1929. However, the economic crisis had an impact on their profits, but even in the worst years they did not fall below 100 000 pence and in 1939 they exceeded 700 000 again.
The company, which was successful in every respect, was eventually made impossible by the communist takeover and nationalisation, as it had grown so large that it was inevitable that it would be broken up in the era of the National Companies. This is how the Kőbánya Sugar Factory NV, the Kőbánya Breweries NV, the Soap Factory NV, the Wine Industry NV and the Vegetable Oil and Detergent Industry NV were created.
Kulich Julianna - Hegedüs Krisztián - Katona Csaba - Maczó Balázs - Török Róbert Török (2018). From the brewer to the brewery. The Hungarian Museum of Trade and Hospitality.
HU-MNL-OL-Z 762-H-54. Copies of the texts of the letters of commendation won at various exhibitions held between 1896 and 1911, 1937 (Item)
HU-MNL-OL-Z 762-G-50. Beer transport and production statistics, 1903-1918 (Item)
HU-MNL-OL-Z 762-G-49. Beer transport statistics, 1894-1903 (Item)
HU-MNL-OL-Z 762-G-40. Reports, statements, 1911-1921 (Item)
HU-MNL-OL-Z 762-C-10. Notebooks of the cartel agreements between breweries in Hungary, records, 1904-1921 (Item)
HU-MNL-OL-Z 762-A-2/2. Business reports and final accounts, 1893-1922 (Item)
HU-MNL-OL-Z 762-A-2/1. Business reports and final accounts, 1893-1922 (Item)