Publishing its annual results on Wednesday, the Brasserie Nationale, based in Bascharage, retained its place as the country’s biggest brewer for volume.

Its production volume was bigger than that of Diekirch and Mousel and Simon combined. The brewery reported that its Battin range has gone from strength to strength, selling 41,400 hectolitres. The strength of this brand is expected to continue with the addition of a Battin Brune at the end of February.

There were positive results for its Munhowen subsidiary, which manages sales and administration. Excluding the brewery’s own products, it sold 251,400 hectolitres of drinks, an increase of 29,340 hectolitres. Turnover rose 8.7% to reach €74.4m (up from €68.4m in 2016) while Ebitda rose 9% (from €5.69m) to reach €6.2m.

The brewery report observes that the beer market in Luxembourg’s catering sector declined 2%, echoing the situation across Europe. “This fall is compensated by an increase in demand for non-beer products,” the report said.

In 2017, the Brasserie Nationale installed photovoltaic panels, improved insulation and introduced new drying techniques, enabling it to reduce energy consumption by 150 MWh per year, equivalent to the consumption of 17 family homes. “These savings, combined with other cost-cutting measures, have a positive impact on the cost price,” the brewery noted. The same year, Munhowen renovated its offices and released a new logo.