Anheuser-Busch has agreed to acquire Italian craft beer maker Birra del Borgo for an undisclosed sum, as the brewing giant seeks to expand its presence in the country.
The company – based in Borgorose, 40 miles east of Rome – produces a range of beers including pale ales, saisons and pilsners. It has also released four seasonal beers and a host of “bizzare” brews such as chestnut beer, spiced raspberry ale and a traditional Nordic-style oyster stout.
It is Anheuser-Busch’s second craft acquisition of the year, having announced the takeover of US-based Devils Backbone Brewing Company earlier in April.
It had earlier completed deals for Breckenridge Brewery, Four Peaks Brewing and Golden Road Brewing – all in the US – as well as British craft beer maker Camden Town.
Birra del Borgo founder Leonardo di Vincenzo said: “Our voyage since we started in 2005 has been a great adventure. Today the beer sector has become very competitive and it necessary for us to make a next step to ensure that we can continue to evolve in terms of brewing techniques and in terms of the complexity and taste variation we can offer to consumers. We believe partnering with AB InBev is a great opportunity to do exactly that: it will allow Birra del Borgo to grow in a sustainable way while staying true to our unique identity and the philosophy that we have followed since the very beginning.
“The partnership with AB InBev will bring us many advantages, from technological improvements and access to scientific research to the possibility to grow from a commercial point of view. Moreover, this partnership also means that we will be able to focus much more on what we enjoy most and do best: creating and experimenting with exciting new beers and pushing the boundaries of beer evolution in Italy.”
Anheuser-Busch country director for Italy, Simn Wustenberg, said: “We have been very impressed by what Leonardo and his team have built since 2005. They have been at the forefront of redefining beer in Italy, bringing a unique mix of inspired innovation, quality and consistency. Leonardo’s vision for beer and his passion for brewing will be great inspirations to our whole team, and we’re very excited about partnering up and growing together. As a challenger on the Italian market, we have been successfully developing our business with a great portfolio of premium and specialty brands in the last few years. Today, that portfolio becomes even stronger with some of the best of ‘Made in Italy’.”
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