A new impulse for Květná glassworks
The Květná 1794 glassworks, one of the longest-running in the Czech Republic, boasts an incredible 230 years of experience. And we are far from done with this number!
Although the situation of Květná 1794 glassworks seemed dire at the end of 2023 due to the rise in energy prices, the entry of a new investor prevented its closure. A purely Czech holding company, AF Group from Hodonín, and the firm MHS & Partners, came up with a plan to save the premium hand-made glass. “We successfully commenced production under the new owner on Monday, February 5th. We are all delighted that the tradition of hand-making, grinding, painting, and etching glass is preserved,” confirmed Marek Mikláš, the director of the glassworks.
The Květná glassworks in the Uherské Hradiště region was built and operated since 1794 by Alois I of Liechtenstein. It has since passed through the hands of
numerous owners who gradually enhanced the quality of the glassworks to its current state. Since 2011, the glassworks had been operated by the company Cerva Bohemia. Under the ownership of Lubomír Cerva, the concept of premium glass made by Květná 1794 expanded into not only Czech awareness but also into 65 other countries around the world.
The new owner plans to further spread the good name of Czech glass and also to target new markets. “From our perspective, saving the glassworks is an extraordinary
opportunity to preserve traditional crafts that are renowned worldwide. Moreover, the glassworks are strongly associated with the local region and are perceived as a traditional and long-standing employer,” explained Josef Anovčín, the CEO of AF Group, the main reasons for the purchase.
At this moment, the glassworks continue the production of hand-made glass under the leadership of the original director, Marek Mikláš. He has been associated
with the plant since 1992 when he started as a glassmaking apprentice. He views the current situation optimistically. “We believe that the new owner will bring not only new possibilities in the field of glass export but also experience and new impulses,” Marek Mikláš assessed the current state.
