In the US, Anheuser-Busch InBev has acquired two more craft brewers – making it the company’s second and third acquisitions in the craft sector this week.
Colorado-based Breckenridge Brewery and Arizona’s Four Peaks Brewing join British craft beer maker Camden Town Brewery, which FoodBev reported had agreed a takeover deal with Anheuser-Busch yesterday. The deals “show just how important the fast-growing category is to the world’s largest brewer,” Fortune magazine wrote yesterday.
Breckenridge Brewery’s portfolio includes Goose Island, Blue Point and Elysian, while Four Peaks Brewing is best known for a Scottish-style ale called Kilt Lifter, accounting for more than 60% of its sales.
The two brewers will join The High End, Anheuser-Busch’s business unit of craft and import brands.
Breckenbridge Brewery president Todd Usry said: “We’re excited about the partnership and have been encouraged to continue on our path and become more innovative moving forward. I’m a believer in what The High End is focused on accomplishing and we are flattered that our team was chosen to help guide that journey. We’re looking forward to utilising resources like decades of research and brewing expertise as we continue to create new beers.”
In a letter to the brewery’s fans, Usry continued: “We are excited about the opportunity this partnership brings to all of us. We’ll continue to own decisions about the beers we create and the ingredients in them. What people relate to in this industry is authenticity. If there were plans to come in and change our employees, our culture, and our recipes, well, that would completely undermine the reason for the partnership at all. What this new partnership does offer us is access to resources that will help us continue to innovate and bring our beer to more people.”
Andy Goeler, CEO, craft for The High End, added: “Breckenridge Brewery has a long history of innovation and they continue to brew new and exciting beers, from their speciality brews like the Mountain Series that celebrates the brewery’s origin as a ski town brewpub, to their planned nitro can series. They are innovative and have built an amazing business that’s enabled them to get their great beers to fans across the country. We look forward to even more growth together.”
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