Grans Brewery halts production after fire in Sandefjord

Production at Grans Brewery in Sandefjord has been completely suspended following a fire on Thursday, with cleanup and equipment checks now underway, Dagbladet reports.

Firefighters responded to flames visible on the roof of the brewery, with smoke billowing from the building, according to local media. While the blaze was contained, it has forced a full shutdown of operations.

Morten Gran, CEO of Grans Brewery, told Dagbladet that crews are now focused on washing, clearing debris, and inspecting machinery. “The fire was limited in scope, but we need to assess everything before restarting,” he said. No timeline for resumption has been given, though Gran expressed optimism about a “relatively quick” return to production.

No employees will be furloughed due to the incident. The brewery’s warehouse, located away from the fire, sustained minimal damage, though some packaging and finished products near the blaze may have been lost. Gran noted that stock levels remain strong, bolstered by pre-Easter production.

While declining to estimate financial losses, Gran acknowledged the disruption: “It’s unfortunate. We had production planned, so we may need extra shifts or overtime to catch up.”

Investigators suspect the fire originated during roof work, potentially leading to an insurance claim. Norwegian broadcaster NRK reported that two individuals—who themselves alerted authorities—are under investigation for negligence, though arson is not suspected.