Warsteiner brewery to cut 125 jobs at headquarters

The Haus-Cramer-Gruppe, owner of the Warsteiner brewery, has announced plans to cut approximately 125 jobs at its headquarters in Warstein by the end of 2026. This reduction will bring the total workforce down to around 600 employees.

Management attributed the decision to declining beer consumption in Germany, noting that sales have dropped by roughly 19 percent over the last decade. Approximately 50 of the affected positions are expected to be eliminated through natural attrition, such as retirement and the expiration of fixed-term contracts. For the remaining 80 roles, the company is engaging in discussions with employee representatives to find socially responsible solutions.

This move follows previous restructuring efforts, including the closure of the Herford brewery and the attempted sale of the Paderborn site. While the company is reducing personnel and material costs, it intends to continue certain investments, such as a wind power plant and a new dealkoholization plant for non-alcoholic beer.