On March 7th, Companhia União Fabril Portuense das Fábricas de Cerveja e Bebidas Refrigerantes (CUFP) was founded with factories at Rua do Melo and Rua da Piedade.

The first decade was marked by the installation of the Factory Unit in Piedade and by the renovation of the equipment.

A decade marked by the inauguration of the Leão Factory on November 20th, 1914.

1914

The Leão Factory is inaugurated on November 20th.

1915

The Pilsener Crystal brand is registered on June 16th, which CUFP had already been selling since 1903.

1920

Female workers are admitted for the first time in CUFP. The first trucks are purchased.

1926

In October, CUFP takes part in the Industrial Exhibition at Palácio de Cristal. Pilsener Crystal and the new Super Bock win gold medals.

1927

On March 3rd, the Super Bock Registration Certificate is requested and issued on November 9th

The early 30s were marked by the Great Depression, although this did not stop new brands from being introduced in the market. The Super Bock brand is officially launched and its sale begins.

1932

CUFP takes part in the Portuguese Industrial Exhibition, in Lisbon, where its beers once again win several awards.

1934

A design is introduced for the Factory’s reform and a building construction at Rua Júlio Dinis, in Oporto.

1940

The 40s marked CUFP’s fiftieth anniversary and the company’s new presence in the Portuguese world’s exhibition.

1942

The difficulty to navigate the Atlantic made it hard to transport imported malt forcing CUFP to use exclusively Portuguese malt.

1947

A historic year due to the arrival of Mr João Talone at CUFP, who was responsible for the company’s cycle of expansion and modernisation starting in the 60s as well as the new factory.

CUFP owns a large share of Angola’s Companhia União de Cervejas, a market that was already considered to be strategic at the time.

1954

The cycle of technological renovations and several works at the Júlio Dinis Factory came to an end, where 17,666 thousand Portuguese Escudos had been invested since 1946.

1955

The production of beer largely exceeds three million litres. Revenues reach a new record – 28 million Portuguese Escudos. It registers a growth of almost 50%.

1957

In order to publicise the CUFP brands – Cristal, Super Bock, Invicta Negra, Invicta Cola, Além-Mar, and Zirta – CUFP’s Beer House is inaugurated in a Building at Júlio Dinis, which quickly became a success and an icon for selling beer.

This decade was a time for change in premises, where CUFP started building a new factory unit at Via Norte, in Leça do Balio.

1964

The first black beer produced in the new factory turned March 13th into a historic day. On September 28th, the President of Portugal presided over the official inauguration of the new premises. With an annual production of 25 million litres in its starting stage, this factory has the capacity to double that number.

1966

Centro de Cultura e Desporto (CCD) – a Leisure Centre – is created for CUFP’s Employees.

With the nationalisation of the Portuguese beer sector, CUFP became Unicer – União Cervejeira EP.

1972

On August 7th, the Super Bock distribution network was inaugurated in Lisbon with its own warehouse. The fleet, which comprised 12 delivery trucks, covered exclusively the urban area of Portugal’s capital city.

1975

Following the revolution that took place on April 25th, 1974, the Portuguese beer sector was nationalised by decision from Movimento das Forças Armadas (MFA) – Armed Forces. A restructuring of this sector followed.

1977

On December 30th, CUFP became Unicer – União Cervejeira EP. This was the result of a merger between CUFP, COPEJA (located in Santarém), IMPERIAL (Loulé), and RICAL (Santa Iria de Azoia). The new company is based in the premises of the former CUFP, in Leça do Balio.

The 80s marked the change from Unicer EP to Unicer SA, where the company changed from a public to a private company.

1985

Super Bock won a Gold Medal in the international awards Monde Selection de la Qualité.

1986

Unicer became a Portuguese beer market leader with a share of 50.8%.

1989

On April 29th, 49% of the capital was privatised. This was the first privatisation of a public company in Portugal. Maltibérica was founded, with Unicer as its key shareholder, in order to form its own malting company.

On June 28th, Unicer became fully private after the Portuguese government disposed of the remaining 51% of capital it owned.

1992

Unicer launched the Danish brand Carlsberg strengthening the company’s position in the premium beer segment.

1995

The first edition of the iconic summer festival Super Bock Super Rock took place.

1998

Unicer associated itself with EXPO’98 with the Super Bock and Vitalis brands as the official sponsors of the event in yet another major push to assert itself and its presence in Lisbon.

1999

Following Expo’98, Super Bock launched the Super Bock, Cerveja Oficial do ano 2000 (Super Bock, Official Beer for the year 2000) campaign sponsoring a wide range of festivals, concerts, and competitions.

In the first decade of the 21st century, the company acquired the Vidago, Melgaço, and Pedras Salgadas Group (VMPS) and Caféeira. This acquisition gave rise to Unicer – Bebidas de Portugal, SA.

2001

On January 1st, there was a relevant change in the company, which was now called Unicer – Bebidas de Portugal, SA.

2002

Unicer – Bebidas de Portugal, SGPS, SA was founded. In the first months of the year, the Vidago, Melgaço, and Pedras Salgadas Group (VMPS) was acquired together with all of Caféeira’s capital.

2003

The launch of Super Bock Stout represents the beginning of an extension in the range of Portugal’s leading beer brand.

2004

Super Bock Green is launched.

2006

Launch of Super Bock Mini and Super Bock Abadia, which is craft beer.

2009

Super Bock Mini Pull-Off is launched, this is an innovative easy-to-open system introduced in Portugal by its leading beer brand.

The Vidago Palace Hotel reopens and is officially inaugurated on the date of its one hundredth anniversary: October 6th.

2011

Unicer launches in Portugal a new cider brand, Somersby.

2012

The project for reconverting and modernising the production and refilling areas in Leça do Balio begins. This unit’s capacity is now 450 million litres, where the company’s entire beer production is now concentrated.

2013

The second stage of the PEDRAS SALGADAS Spa & Nature Park is inaugurated. The same year, the Super Bock Selecção 1927 is released, a range of special craft beer in limited editions. This strengthens the sturdy Super Bock beer credentials and brings sophistication to this category.

2014

In September, Unicer commemorated its 50th anniversary in Leça do Balio by inaugurating new headquarters and a Production Centre with an event that counted on the presence of Minister of Economic Affairs António de Pires de Lima.

2015

On March 7th, the President of Portugal, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, presided over the official ceremony of Unicer’s 125th anniversary and visited the new industrial complex, which was the result of one of the largest investments in the company’s history, over 100 million Euros. In October, Super Bock Casa da Cerveja (House of Beer) was inaugurated.

2016

Four beers make up the Super Bock Selecção range: Munich Dunkel, Bavaria Weiss, Bengal Ambar IPA, and Czech Golden Lager.

Pioneers in using recyclable cups in big events, we extended this innovative option to other initiatives and points of sale around the country: the environment-friendly cups are currently available in over 50 events and more than 250 bars and restaurants in ten Portuguese cities.

2017

Unicer is now Super Bock Group.

2018

Super Bock Coruja is released, the production of this beer uses the dry-hopping technique on a large scale granting it a special nature. Innovative and unique in Portugal, this beer’s distinctive feature is the result of adding hops much later during its manufacture, hence intensifying its aroma and sensory experience.

2019

It is called Vitalis+ and it brings together the purity of Vitalis mineral water, the freshness of fruit, and a functional benefit. Now there are two varieties making up this new range: Vitalis+ with Lemon Juice and Magnesium and Vitalis+ with Red Berries and Vitamin B1. These two options add to the range of options for consumers in search of well-being.

2020

The non-alcoholic Super Bock Free beer is now temporarily called Super Doc. With this decision, the brand intended to honour the healthcare professionals who were at the forefront fighting COVID-19.

In the same context, the production of Super Bock non-alcoholic beer enabled the brand – through a process of dealcoholisation – to produce gel sanitisers to give to the hospital units in this country. In a partnership with Destilaria Levira, approximately 18 thousand litres of gel sanitisers were obtained from the remains of non-alcoholic Super Bock beer production.

Still this year, the New Gluten-Free Super Bock was released. Tasted by the Portuguese Celiac Association, this beer maintains Super Bock’s flavour, golden colour, lightness, and freshness.

2021

Pedras turned 150 years old and announced a 30-million-Euro investment in the modernisation of the Pedras Salgadas Production Centre and expansion of the Pedras Salgadas Spa & Nature Park.

Carlsberg launched #probablybetternow with the mission of raising the awareness of the Portuguese society to the importance of the Tagus Estuary and its biodiversity. All this is associated with preserving the common dolphins and other examples of urgent mitigation of human impact on the sea environment.

The Portuguese market welcomes the first bottle produced from 100% recycled plastic: the Vitalis bottle (1.5L), which incorporates in its manufacture more than three 33cl plastic bottles. This innovation reduced the use of new plastic in over 6.3 tons a year.

2022

Super Bock 0.0% arrives in the Portuguese market with the support of a modern image in line with the non-alcoholic beer segment. A new reference in our portfolio and Super Bock Group’s renewed assertion in the culture of responsible and smart drinking.