| Extra info | 1912--1975
The story began on October 10, 1912, when the Limited Partnership Júlio Diehl & Cia. was founded. After the capital call, they made their first deposit at the now extinct Banco Pelotense. With the resources, they purchased three plots of land on the banks of the Taquari River in Estrela where the factory would grow in the following decades.
The brewery was puchased by Antarctica in 1972
Polar beer, one of the most traditional brands on the market, has a strong relationship with Santa Cruz do Sul. It was created by Santa Cruz entrepreneurs over 60 years ago.
The city of Oktoberfest, due to the influence of the population of Germanic origin, has a tradition in the production of draft beer and beer. In his book Clippings from the past of Santa Cruz, the now deceased researcher Hardi Martin reports that the first brewery in the city was born in 1868 and belonged to Karl Schütz. It is possible that she was the pioneer of the branch, with official registration, in the then Province of São Pedro. Many immigrants, however, manufactured the drink in their homes and supplied it to their neighbors, informally. To this day, there are families who produce their own beer. Since 2009, the municipality has been present on the market with the Heilige microbrewery.
The big boost in the sector, however, was reserved for 1945, when businessmen from Santa Cruz acquired Cervejaria Estrela, a traditional enterprise in the municipality of Estrelense, in Vale do Taquari.
Polar Headquarters in Estrela/RSThe factory remained in place, where it created more than 800 jobs. Its administration, however, became in Santa Cruz, on Rua Fernando Abott, corner of Venâncio Aires, where the Costaneira store is located today. On site, in addition to the offices, there was also a large warehouse and distribution center.
The change of command brought a decisive change to the future of the enterprise. The brewery's name changed to Polar, a brand that ended up being recognized in the State. The company even gained a monument: a gigantic bottle at the junction of Marechal Floriano, Tiradentes and Galvão Costa streets, in front of Corinthians.
In its edition of January 15, 1946, the Gazeta published the minutes of incorporation of the new brewery,
according to the meeting of October 25, 1945. Edgar Gruendling was elected president.
The growth was exceptional. In 1945, it produced 609,200 bottles. Three years later, under the Santa Cruz administration, the number practically doubled: 1.1 million bottles. In December 1962, a big party in Estrela marked the 50th anniversary of Cervejaria Estrela and, consequently, of its successor, Polar. At the time, S/A celebrated the milestone of 12.8 million bottles produced. |
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