Yesterday, the Czech and Moravian Beer Academy (hereinafter referred to as the CMBA) presented the 2015 Annual Awards in the Main Hall of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. The event took place under the auspices of the “Committee for Regional Development, Public Administration and the Environment” of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. The CMBA Annual Awards bearers were voted by the Academy members in 17 categories. Budweiser Budvar, N.C.’s managing director Jiří Boček came first in the category of “breweries with annual sales over 500,000 hectolitres”.
“Undoubtedly, Jiří Boček is an important personality of Czech brewing, having ensured an unprecedented development within the framework of his activities as the director of the world-famous Budvar brewery in terms of production capacity, production modernization and the specific quality of products acknowledged both in the Czech Republic and abroad fully corresponding with the traditional ‘Czech beer’ phenomenon. He significantly participated in pushing through the Protected Geographical Indication in the Czech Republic. Owing to him, the brewery managed to obtain the first-ever PGI for ‘Českobudějovické pivo’ in 2004 and subsequently, in 2008, for ‘České pivo” as well. His successful professional activity is based on outstanding personal qualities, which primarily include professional expertise, diligence, consistency, the ability to control the process and activities of the staff and not least the love and pride for the brewing industry ongoing from his youth,” says Prof. Gabriela Basařová, DrSc., a leading Czech expert in the field of brewing.
Last year, Budweiser Budvar confirmed the trend of a long-term rise of interest in Budweiser Budvar and Pardál beer brands’ beer. In 2015, the brewery brewed more than 1.6 million hectolitres of beer, which is almost 10% more y.o.y. The corporation traditionally achieved very good export results, as 900,000 hectolitres travelled to 76 states, which represents a year-on-year increase of 10.5%. In the domestic market the sales increased by 9%, exceeding a volume of 700,000 hectolitres. Since 1991, when Jiří Boček started as the director of the corporation, the beer production has increased from 491,191 hectolitres more than threefold. Only in the last decade itself the production has risen by 39%. Despite the huge increase in the production volume Budweiser Budvar continues the tradition of producing the original Beer from Budweis, brewed since the 13th century exclusively using ingredients of Czech origin. ‘Budějovické pivo’ and ‘Českobudějovické pivo’ are included in the Protected Geographical Indications in the EU.
Considering the increasing sales results in the long-term, investment in expanding the manufacturing capacity and logistics is necessary for a further development of the brewery. Last year, the brewery's management discussed the concept of the corporation’s development until 2020 with the future prospects until 2030 with the corporation’s founder -the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic. The implementation of this concept was launched last year. This year, the development plan is going to continue with building modern logistics premises in České Budějovice, which will become the biggest investment for the past 10 years.
CMBA Annual Awards
The CMBA was established by the professional monthly magazine “Pivo, Bier & Ale”, the members being significant personalities of the Czech brewing industry. Based on a poll, the academy grants Annual awards in a total of 17 categories each year. Breweries are divided into 12 categories according to their sales, other categories being the best beer restaurants, beer shops and breweries with hotels. The “bartender” title is awarded in both male and female categories.
Prof. Gabriela Basařová, DrSc. – a brief C.V.
Educational background
The Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague
1957 graduating from the Master’s degree course in chemistry
1964 obtaining a Ph.D degree in fermentation chemistry and technology
1977 obtaining a DrSc. degree
1981 named a professor of malting and brewing
Working experience
1957-1967 Head of Research and Technology, Pilsen brewery (today’s Pilsner Urquell)
1967-1978 Head of the Department of Biochemistry at the Research Institute of Brewing and Malting
1978-1982 Director of the Research Institute of Brewing and Malting
1982-1997 Head of the Department of Fermentation Chemistry and Bioengineering, the Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague,
1997 Professor of Brewing and Malting at the Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague (lectures on the brewing and malting technology)
Publications
525 publications – monographs, textbooks, articles, patents, lectures and posters
Main subjects: Problems of colloidal and sensory stability of beer, research projects, monitoring of beer fermentation in cylindroconical tanks, yeast properties and their immobilization, use of waste yeast, new analytical methods for malt and beer, specific qualities of ‘Czech beer’ and others
Honours
1999 ‘Balling Medal’ of the Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague
2002 inducted into the Hall of Fame of Czech brewing and malting
2012 state honour - ‘Medal of Merits’ in science, education and schooling
Jiří Boček – a brief C.V.
1972-1973 Brewing Training Centre in České Budějovice (which involved practical training in the Budweiser Budvar Brewery)
1974-1977 Secondary Technical School of Food Technology in Prague
1977-1982 The Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague, Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology, Department of Fermentation Chemistry and Bioengineering
1982 Practical Training in Strakonice Brewery
1983-1984 military service
1984 technologist and brewing houses foreman in the Budweiser Budvar Brewery
1985-1991 Junior brewmaster and brewing houses foreman in the Budweiser Budvar Brewery
1991-until now Budweiser Budvar Brewery’s managing director