With two mugs to survive – this is how Hungarian small breweries closed 2024

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 06. 27. 11:39

The players in the domestic small-scale beer market mostly reported increasing sales in 2024, but their profitability was far from uniform. Only a few of the largest players were able to close with positive results, while several surprising winners emerged from the middle ground. The numbers clearly show: the romantic era of the beer revolution is over, and the players in the kraft market are now struggling with harsh economic realities – writes Pénzcentrum.

Top 5: there is sales, but where is the profit?

The small-scale breweries with the largest domestic sales – Szent András, Mad Scientist, Rizmajer, MONYO and Horizont – are moving along different strategies, but the gap between sales and profit is widening. For example, Szent András, which has the largest turnover, increased its net sales to over a billion forints, but at the same time remained massively loss-making. Rizmajer, on the other hand, was able to demonstrate stable, profitable operations, while increasing its sales at a moderate pace.

Mad Scientist expanded spectacularly, but its profits melted away, MONYO recorded a heavy loss despite record revenue. Only Horizont was able to take a positive turn: although its sales decreased, its after-tax profit turned into a profit for the first time.

Quiet winners and spectacular failures

Brew Your Mind from Szekszárd stood out from the field: with sales of 225 million, it achieved a profit of more than 24 million, ahead of many well-known names. Reketye, HopTop, Ugar Brewery, Fóti and Vaskakas distilleries were also able to realize stable profits, although typically with smaller volumes. Félegyházi Sörműhely and Etyek Sörmanufaktúra showed dynamic growth, while reducing their losses or turning a profit.

At the other end of the spectrum, however, several well-known brands are struggling with serious problems. First Craft Beer suffered a 40% drop in sales in two years, closing with a loss of 93 million. Gravity Brewing also accumulated spectacular losses, presumably due to the costs of its catering expansion. Although the losses of Fehér Nyúl and Etyek Distillery have decreased, they are still not profitable.