Ragutis - Summary


		Three industrial breweries operated in Kaunas up to the end of the 19th century: “I. B. Wolf”, “Engelmann” and “Blumenthal”. In the first half of the 20th century two more breweries – “Ragutis” [“Small Horn”] and “Vienybė” [“Unity”] – started to work. Their equipment met the most modern standards of that time. The oldest brewery in Kaunas which is one of the oldest industrial factories in Lithuania was established by Raphail Wolf in 1853.
Later the business of this factory went to his son Iser Ber Wolf. Beer of “I. B. Wolf” was appreciated not only in Kaunas guberniya but beyond its limits as well.
The foundation of “Engelmann” brewery is associated with the year 1860, however, the exact date is not known. It’s clear, that in 1870s Ferdinand Engelmann together with Arndt Rabinovitch bought a working brewery next to the present Kaunakiemio street, “in the new part of Kaunas city”, i.e. in the neighbourhood of Carmelite Church, near the river Nemunas and the railway station.
Having bought “Engelmann” brewery, I. B. Wolf and A. S. Soloveichik founded a “steam-driven beer and malt factory Engelmann”. The statutes of this joint-stock company were registered in St. Petersburg on the 20th of February 1903. When I. B. Wolf bought Engelmann’s brewery, he administered documentation of both companies – “I. B. Wolf” and “Engelmann”.

	In summer 1919 the Ministry of Finance, Trade and Industry gave permission to renew the operation of the beer brewery “I. B. Wolf” in Vilijampolė. Even though this brewery resumed the brewing almost immediately after the war, its owners did not receive any profit until February 1920; thus they addressed the Municipality of Kaunas City with a petition to postpone the tax payment.



Seeking to reduce the production costs and to increase the profit the owners of “I. B. Wolf” and “Engelmann” decided to merge the companies. The new company began working in 1927 and was called “Joint-stock Company of Beer Breweries and Molt Factories “I. B. Wolf-Engelmann”. In 1920s Sulim Wolf became the Director of the Company.
In 1922 a new beer brewery, Joint-Stock Company “Ragutis” [“Small Horn”], was established. It operated in the place of the debt-laden brewery of Blumenthal. Since the very beginning “Ragutis” did not pay any taxes either to the state or to Kaunas Municipality, so soon it was sold in an auction. It was purchased by the beer brewery “Gubernija” from Šiauliai, which later was taken by the Bank of Lithuania.


Lithuanian industry following the principles of centralization and planned economy was developed not according to the needs of population, but according to the politic and economic interests of the Soviet Union. In 1959 the “Beer and Soft Drinks Syndicate of Kaunas” was established on the basis of beer breweries “Ragutis” and “Raudonoji pašvaistė”. After its establishment the number of administration staff was reduced, but the expenses of the syndicate did not essentially decrease.

	In the end of 1960s the syndicate was called “Ragutis”. It is difficult to judge why this name was chosen, but it might be assumed that it was a more convenient title because of its shortness and history. Former “Ragutis” turned into the Plant No 2 and “Raudonoji pašvaistė” – into the Plant No 1.

	On the 1st of February 1971 Yeast Factory was merged with “Ragutis” Beer Syndicate. After this merger “Ragutis” Beer Syndicate became “Ragutis” Beer Combine.


Situation of “Ragutis” changed after the restoration of independence of Lithuania in 1990. Centralized Moscow rule disappeared and the reorganization of the company was inevitable. “Ragutis” became Kaunas Public Beer Brewery “Ragutis”. The disaffiliated Plant No 2, located in the beginning of Savanorių avenue, became an independent beer company “Žalsvytis”.

“Ragutis” was expanding. According to the scope of production, it was fifth at that time. Although company’s profit was not large, the company was reconditioned, modernizing the machinery. At the same time company’s production improved. In the beginning of 1997 a famous Czech company “Pilsner Urquell” (in Czech “Plzenskyj prazdroj”) acquired 51% of company’s shares. Big changes started in the company, it was reconstructed. In 1997 the brewery launched “Gambrinus” beer brand.

A new stage in company’s life started in 1999. A Finnish company “Olvi” purchased the shares from Czech company “Pilsner Urquell”. The new owners immediately started work. They focused their attention to the improvement of production quality, increase of production efficiency and expansion of production capacity.
A new trademark “Horn” appeared in the market, a new product – cider “Fizz” was proposed to consumers. In the end of 2006 “Ragutis” stormed into the market of energetic beverages with a new product “Dynami:t”.

The company influences not only economical, but also social life in the city. It allocates part of its funds to sponsor sport and culture events. “Ragutis” is a sponsor of traditional feasts of Kaunas – “Kaunas Days”, “Operetta ir Kaunas Castle”, “Pažaislis Music Festival“. The company minds the needs of its employees, holding festivals for them and providing vocational training.