MV Group Production: Baltic beverage powerhouse built on heritage and modern taste

In a consolidating European drinks landscape, few independent producers from smaller markets scale internationally without losing identity. MV Group Production is doing exactly that.

Based in Lithuania and operating four production sites, the company exports to more than 50 countries and manages one of the Baltics’ broadest beverage portfolios, spanning beer, sparkling wine, fruit wines, spirits, ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails and non-alcoholic products. Its strength lies not only in scale, but in the breadth of its categories and the depth of its heritage.

Across its network, MV Group Production operates 17 filling lines and manufactures around 1,800 SKUs, reflecting the complexity and diversity of its portfolio.

With an annual production capacity of more than 100 million litres across its factories, the company continues to expand internationally, with products distributed across multiple continents and ongoing growth in export markets.

As part of the wider MV Group ecosystem – covering distribution, logistics and specialised retail – MV Group Production operates with direct exposure to market feedback. More than 80% of its production comes from proprietary brands, giving it control over positioning, pricing and long-term strategy in a way many regional producers, often dependent on private label, cannot match.

MV Group employs more than 1,000 people across its operations and invests more than €4 million annually in production modernisation, product quality and operational development.

Where heritage meets modern production

The company’s production platform brings together Gubernija, with more than 360 years of brewing history, Stumbras, celebrating 120 years, Anykščių vynas, marking its centenary, and Alita, with over 60 years of sparkling wine expertise – representing deep knowledge across distinct beverage categories within a single production group.

Each site retains its own specialisation, from brewing and winemaking to spirits production, while sharing expertise across the organisation to support product development and innovation.

At MV Group Production, heritage is not presented as nostalgia. It serves as the foundation for combining authentic production practices with modern solutions across manufacturing, product development and market delivery. In practice, this means applying contemporary technologies and market insight to preserve traditional recipes while ensuring consistency, scalability and relevance in international markets.

Bringing traditional recipes to global markets requires precision. Natural botanicals vary from harvest to harvest. Flavour consistency must hold across long-distance logistics. Retailers expect extended shelf life without compromise.

According to CEO Algirdas Čiburys, that balance is achieved by reinforcing traditional production with advanced laboratories, modern liquid processing and filtration systems, as well as automated quality control.

“Our focus is not to replace tradition, but to build on it – combining authentic recipes with modern production and market insight to ensure long-term relevance,” says Čiburys.

Rather than redefining traditional products, the focus is on preserving authenticity while ensuring they remain relevant and competitive in contemporary markets.

Specialists across sites collaborate on product development, combining category knowledge rather than working independently. Botanical extraction expertise developed at Stumbras informs flavour innovation across categories, while winemaking know-how supports seasonal and infused expressions.

This cross-site approach also enables format flexibility. Sparkling wine produced at Alita can be packaged in cans at Gubernija, responding to growing demand for portability and single-serve occasions. Such integration allows production facilities to function as a coordinated system rather than isolated sites.

A strong year across key brands

2025 marked a strong year for MV Group Production across its portfolio, with 35 international awards – including three gold, 25 silver and five bronze medals, alongside Master and country winner titles – and more than 25 new products introduced across categories.

“In spirits, 2025 marked a defining year for Stumbras Vodka. The brand entered Drinks International’s prestigious Millionaires’ Club by surpassing one million nine-litre cases in annual sales. It was ranked number 39 among the world’s leading vodka brands and was among the top three fastest-growing vodka brands globally. Stumbras Vodka continues to strengthen its position in Poland, advancing to eighth place by market share according to the latest IWSR data and establishing itself as the second-largest imported vodka brand in the market – a significant milestone for a Baltic-origin label competing in a highly consolidated global category,” adds Čiburys.

In volume terms, the brand exceeded nine million litres sold in 2024, reinforcing its international footprint. The Stumbras portfolio stands out for its use of distinctive ingredients, including wheat–rye blends and real fruit infusions, alongside premium organic products, reflecting a focus on authenticity and quality in the spirits category. Looking ahead, Stumbras continues to expand its presence in RTD, with ready-to-drink cocktails in cans being launched in 2026, extending the brand into new consumption occasions.

In the RTD segment, the Mix brand has seen strong growth in recent years. Introduced at an early stage of the category’s development, it has evolved in line with consumer demand, offering a broad and well-established flavour range. The range has also gained international recognition, collecting four silver medals across competitions – reinforcing the brand’s quality credentials as it continues to expand in export markets.

At the same time, Mix continues to expand its non-alcoholic portfolio, responding to shifting consumer preferences with a growing range of alcohol-free alternatives across its most popular flavours.

RTD acceleration and export expansion

Export has become the company’s primary growth engine, with RTD cocktails delivering the sharpest acceleration.

The Mix brand recorded 49% volume growth year-to-date versus 2024, while its mocktail variants grew by 150% over the same period. Export now accounts for 70% of total brand depletions.

The brand is currently sold in 31 export markets and expanded into six new countries during the year, including Albania, Portugal, Iceland, Australia and Switzerland. The number of export markets surpassing one million bottles doubled to four in 2025.

In Hungary, Mix secured a number three RTD ranking according to IWSR 2024 data, underscoring its competitive positioning in one of Central Europe’s more dynamic RTD markets.

2026 outlook: growth beyond home markets

Looking ahead, growth ambitions remain firmly export-led. Central and Western Europe are among the company’s key priority regions, alongside continued development in Asia and selected Middle Eastern markets, particularly for non-alcoholic lines.

RTD cocktails and no-alcohol and low-alcohol categories are expected to remain the main growth drivers, while spirits exports continue to expand.

Čiburys emphasises that the company’s focus remains consistent: to be recognised by partners as reliable and consistent in quality, while maintaining a pragmatic, responsive and straightforward way of working. He also highlights the importance of continuing to balance heritage and innovation as the company expands internationally.

Rather than chasing scale for its own sake, the company’s strategy centres on strengthening its international footprint while maintaining the character of its heritage brands. In a consolidating market, scale combined with independence remains central to its long-term strategy.