Father of Radegast beer celebrates his ninetieth birthday

Radegast brewery manager Ivo Kaňák describes his predecessor: “Mr. Franzl, nicknamed Mr. Old, is an exceptional personality in the world of brewing and contributed enormously to the development of beer brewing in Moravia.”

Jaromír Franzl is the sixth successive chief brewer from the famous Franzl family. He went through many Moravian breweries between 1942 and 1969. In the fifties he was already making good use of his professional experience and managerial skills at the positions of assistant of production, director and chief brewer.

J. Franzl reached the pinnacle of his professional career working in the newly built Radegast brewery in Nošovice, where he worked as an assistant of production in years 1969–79. He is rightly considered the father of Radegast beer, because it was him who gave Radegast its typical taste which became very popular with time. After that he was the director of the largest brewery in Moravia until his retirement in 1981.

Jaromír Franzl worked in Radegast brewery also after 1989 as an advisor during the launch of technological innovations. The brewery received the first Golden Radegast award ever, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Czech brewery and malting in 2005, thus joining ranks of the greatest figures in the field.

Notes for editors:

• With total sales of more than 10.9 million hectoliters in the year 2007 and with exports to more than 55 countries worldwide, Plzeňský Prazdroj, a. s., is the leading beer producer in Czechia and the largest exporter of Czech beer. Plzeňský Prazdroj's main brands in the Czech Republic are Pilsner Urquell, Gambrinus, Radegast, Velkopopovický Kozel and nonalcoholic Radegast Birell.
• Plzeňský Prazdroj produces beer in three breweries in the Czech Republic – in Plzeň brewery, Radegast brewery and Velké Popovice brewery. There are 13 commercial distribution centers ensuring supply in respective regions of the republic.
• The Plzeňský Prazdroj company fully understands its responsibility towards environment and has accepted the policy of environment protection as one of its business principles. It engages especially in care for water resources, industrial waters cleaning, minimization of CO₂ and other emissions, recycling, energy savings and increasing efficiency of transport.
• Plzeňský Prazdroj, a. s., is a member of SABMiller plc, the second largest global brewing company worldwide with brewing interests or distribution agreements in over 60 countries across six continents. Pilsner Urquell is the international flagship of the portfolio of SABMiller brands.

Contact:
Jiří Mareček
Manager external communication
+420 724 617 219

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