Centuries-old Braunschweig brewery Wolters to cease production after insolvency

The Hofbrauhaus Wolters GmbH, a Braunschweig brewery founded in 1627, has announced that it will end beer production in the city after entering self-administered insolvency proceedings at the local court. The firm blamed a slump in demand and sharply higher energy, production and logistics expenses for its difficulties. Earlier restructuring plans aimed to concentrate on the domestic market, grow the non-alcoholic beverage segment, and reduce export activities, but these ambitions have been shelved.

The broader German brewing sector faces declining sales of alcoholic beers and rising operational costs. When the insolvency was first declared, staff were told that salaries would remain protected.