Alita (company)

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Alita is a brewing company based in Alytus, Lithuania, established in 1963.{{cite web | title=About us| website=Alita | url=https://alita.lt/en/about-us/| access-date=25 July 2023}}

Alita is one of the largest producers of alcoholic beverages in Lithuania.{{cite web | author=Delfi projektai | title=Netektis: mirė buvęs "Alitos" gamyklos vadovas Juozas Daukšys | website=Delfi verslas | date=2023-10-13 | url=https://www.delfi.lt/verslas/verslas/netektis-mire-buves-alitos-gamyklos-vadovas-juozas-dauksys-94474573 | language=lt | access-date=2023-10-13}}{{cite web | title="Alita" turi naują gamybos vadovą | website=15min.lt/verslas | date=2023-09-12 | url=https://www.15min.lt/verslas/naujiena/bendroves/alita-turi-nauja-gamybos-vadova-663-2109738 | language=lt | access-date=2023-10-13}} In 2004, when the state monopoly of liquor production in Lithuania was lifted, the company was privatised. In the same year, Alita acquired 95% stake of Lithuanian company Anykščių vynas, the oldest wine producer in Eastern Baltic region.{{cite web | title="Alita" parduoda "Anykščių vyno" įmonę | website=Lrytas.lt naujienos| date=2012-03-02 | url=https://www.lrytas.lt/verslas/rinkos-pulsas/2012/03/02/news/-alita-parduoda-anyksciu-vyno-imone-5348844 | language=lt | access-date=2023-10-13}}{{cite web | title=Didžiausias "Anykščių vyno" akcininkas ketina pradėti bendrovės pardavimo procesą | website=15min.lt/verslas | date=2012-03-02 | url=https://www.15min.lt/verslas/naujiena/finansai/didziausias-anyksciu-vyno-akcininkas-ketina-pradeti-bendroves-pardavimo-procesa-662-200584 | language=lt | access-date=2023-10-13}}{{cite web | last=Informacija | first=Ekonomikos Ir Finansų | title="Alita" už "Anykščių vyną" sumokės 25,61 mln. litų | website=Delfi verslas | date=2004-07-08 | url=https://www.delfi.lt/verslas/verslas/alita-uz-anyksciu-vyna-sumokes-25-61-mln-litu-4705782 | language=lt | access-date=2023-10-13}}

Alita produces naturally fermented sparkling grape vines, alcoholic cocktails, ciders, vodka, brandy and concentrated fruit juice and it exports its products around the world. It entered the liquors business in 1995.{{cite news | title="Alita" pradėjo "Geros starkos" gamybą | work=Delfi | date=5 July 2001 | url=https://www.delfi.lt/verslas/verslas/alita-pradejo-geros-starkos-gamyba-386175 | language=lt | access-date=1 April 2024}}

In 2000, the distillery released a vodka named Putin Vodka, with a red, white, and blue label, which are the colours of the Russian flag. Sold only in Lithuania at that time, a company spokesperson said that the name had its origin in the tree "putinas"{{cite web | title=Distillery launches Putin-brand vodka | website=ABC News | date=15 September 2000| first=Liudas |last=Dapkus | url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=82630&page=1 | access-date=25 July 2023}} (the Lithuanian name for the genus Viburnum{{cite web | title=Putinas (lot. Viburnum) - visagalis sveikatinantis augalasžiūrėkite video | website=Sodoexpertai.lt | date=17 May 2022 | url=https://sodoexpertai.lt/putinas-visagalis-sveikatinantis-augalas/ | language=lt | access-date=25 July 2023}}).

The company was the title sponsor of BC Alita, a local basketball club, which consistently competed in the top tier Lithuanian Basketball League for all its existence, in addition to various European tournaments – FIBA Korać Cup, FIBA EuroCup Challenge, and FIBA EuroChallenge.