Mattoni 1873 boosted performance and market shares in 2021

The Central European group based in the Czech Republic produced more than 1.76 billion bottles last year. In the Czech Republic, the company increased its market share in all key areas (natural mineral waters, flavoured waters, carbonated soft drinks). Market shares in key segments were also strengthened in other European countries.

As in the previous year, the Group achieved a great result thanks to innovation and the mobilisation of staff performance despite difficult times.

"We managed to achieve a strong recovery compared to 2021, despite the fluctuations in the external environment - first we faced the impact of pandemic restrictions and then the sharp increase in raw material and energy prices. A key success factor has been the enthusiasm and commitment of all our people, whose excellent performance has translated into an attractive innovation programme that we have delivered effectively across all channels," says Alessandro Pasquale, CEO of Mattoni 1873.

In 2021, the Mattoni 1873 Group focused on the following key areas:

1. innovation and expansion of the Group's portfolio in the Central European region

The long-term cooperation with PepsiCo has expanded to another country and in January 2022 Mattoni 1873 became the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of PepsiCo soft drinks in Austria. In this role, the group is already successfully operating in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria. In Hungary, Mattoni 1873 newly launched Guarana energy drink, which is produced by Knjaz Milos (a member company of the Group in Serbia) and is one of the most popular energy drinks among young people in Serbia and Montenegro.

The group launched Mattoni mineral water in a new 1 litre returnable glass bottle in a unique divisible container in the Czech market, thus adding another package to its portfolio that meets the principles of the circular economy. The Mattoni brand was also the first local brand to bring cans to the flavoured water category and since last year it has been available in the retail network in three popular flavours Multi, Black and Cedrata. For the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Mattoni and Budějovický Budvar have been preparing a new brand of flavoured non-alcoholic beer, which will appear on the market in spring 2022.

2. dealing with the impact of the pandemic

The group managed to significantly develop its e-shop with soft drinks, which was launched in an extremely short time of three months during the first lockdown. Now the e-shop operates under the name Zaperli.cz and delivers goods in all regional towns of the Czech Republic and all major cities of the Central Bohemian Region.

The Mattoni brand continued with another advertising campaign to support the HORECA segment affected by the pandemic restrictions and motivate people to visit restaurants.

The group continued to help sectors facing the pandemic - donated drinks went to crisis units, hospitals and senior homes. Added to this was help for areas in Moravia affected by the tornado.

3. business sustainability

In the summer of 2021, Mattoni 1873 launched a second wave of unification of PET bottle colours for easier recycling and gradually introduced transaprent PET bottles for four brands (Aquila, Hanácká kyselka, Dobrá voda and Poděbradka). The Group has thus complied with the newly set conditions for sorted collection in the Czech Republic, and at the same time believes that it will be possible to introduce a system of centralized deposits that will kick-start circular bottle-to-bottle recycling and fully exploit the valuable raw material, which PET undeniably is.

In Slovakia, Mattoni 1873 actively participated in the launch of a PET bottle and can deposit system from January 2022, and has adapted the labelling of its packaging for the Slovak market to allow for redemption scheme. At the same time, it signed an agreement to buy a one-third stake in General Plastic, a Slovak recycler and manufacturer of PET bottle preforms.

In the Czech Republic, Mattoni 1873 continued its efforts to promote DRS for PET beverage bottles and cans as well as efficient recycling from bottle to bottle. A year-long pilot project yielded positive results, where deposited Mattoni PET bottles from the special edition online store Košík.cz were collected and reprocessed into new bottles.

Mattoni 1873 - in addition to its activities in the Zálohujme.cz initiative - became a founding member of the Iniciativa pro zálohování in 2021, which brings together five key beverage producers in the Czech Republic and aims to introduce nationwide deposit system on PET bottles and cans.

Mattoni 1873's main objectives in 2022

Mattoni 1873 was the first company from the Czech Republic to sign up to the EU Code of Conduct for Responsible Business and Marketing Practices in the Food Industry in 2021. The Group is focusing on four main areas, which it will continue to address in 2022:

1. application of circularity principles
2. achieving climate neutrality
3. increasing biodiversity
4. reduction of resource consumption

In early 2022, the group started to help due to the war in Ukraine - the group donates water to refugees in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary and cooperates with organizations that bring water to Ukraine. It helps the families of its employees with accommodation in the Czech Republic and also helps the employees of its business partners.