Bulgaria: Zagorka to invest over 4.83 million euro in production of Heineken 0.0

Bulgarian brewer Zagorka will invest over 4.83 million euro in its plant in Stara Zagora for the production of Heineken 0.0 non-alcoholic beer and for renewable energy sources. Over 2.84 million euro of the amount is grant funding under the Development of Regions 2021-2027 Programme. The projected timeframe for the project's completion is 28 months, the Bulgarian company informed Capital.

The investment involves the construction of new production capacities for non-alcoholic beer and the implementation of specialized technology for the production of Heineken 0.0 at the brewery in Stara Zagora.

The company has long-standing experience in the production of non-alcoholic beer, but the technology for Heineken 0.0 is different, Zagorka clarified for Capital. The production process follows traditional brewing stages, after which it undergoes an additional process of precise alcohol separation using specialized equipment. In this way, the product's characteristic taste and aroma profiles are preserved.

Approximately 1.3 million euro of the funds are earmarked for specialized equipment, including a vacuum rectification column. The project also includes investments in infrastructure and product storage facilities.

Part of the investment is for the construction of a new, third photovoltaic power plant with a capacity of 786.5 kWp, located on rooftop and ground areas at the brewery, as well as an energy storage system with a total capacity of over 1 MWh.

The company has experience with the production of non-alcoholic beer. The first non-alcoholic beer in Bulgaria was Zagorka, produced in the 1980s, the Bulgarian company noted. In 2017, the brewery introduced Ariana Radler 0.0% with a variety of fruit flavors. Heineken 0.0 has been available in Bulgaria since 2019, but so far it is only packaged at the Stara Zagora brewery, and the company's newest offering in the segment is from this year - Ariana 0.0%.

The installation of company-owned photovoltaics also has a history. Over the last three years, Zagorka has invested more than 7 million euro (approx. 13.69 million Bulgarian levs) in projects related to sustainable development and decarbonization, in line with its strategy for a zero carbon footprint by 2030. In 2021 and 2025, the company built solar panels with a capacity of 730 kW and 715 kW, which provide between 15% and 20% of the electricity consumed by the brewery.

23 July, 2026