Local Networks: “Die Freien Brauer” Association Thrilled with Production Operations in Willstätt
While it’s true that every day is special at KATZ, there was one that stood out in particular in June: Members of “Die Freien Brauer,” an association of independent breweries, paid a visit to the new production facilities at our site in Willstätt and got to take a closer look at our beverage coaster production operations. The tour was part of the Einkaufs-, Technik- & Braumeistertagung 2025 conference for master brewers and technology, equipment, and procurement specialists, and showed how this type of visit is much more than just a mere item on the agenda for us – instead, it’s a great opportunity to share more about the work we do, get new ideas and inspiration, and strengthen our industry through conversations.
The “Die Freien Brauer” association brings together 47 medium-sized family-owned breweries in Germany, Austria, and Luxembourg that are not affiliated with any large corporate groups and have been owned by families for generations. It’s a robust organization with deep ties that is dedicated to preserving the art of brewing, and we were more than happy to welcome representatives from it in the form of managers, buyers, and master brewers.
The guided tour of our facilities gave us the chance to show our guests what it is exactly that we do day in day out – with plenty of passion, know-how, and team spirit. And while it wasn’t the first time they learned about it given that KATZ and Die Freien Brauer have a long-standing partnership, it was the first time they got to look at our new site in Willstätt and the opportunities and challenges they hold. “It was important for me to give the association’s members the opportunity to experience things right where they happen so that there would be an emotional link to our beverage coasters. It was simply the perfect moment for them to see what we’re doing to make our coasters even more attractive and successful on the market,” says KATZ Senior Sales Manager for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland Olaf Müller.