Made Group has five brands in its portfolio, including Cocobella coconut water
Coca-Cola Amatil and The Coca-Cola Company have jointly acquired a 45% minority interest in Australian beverage company Made Group.
Founded in 2005, Made Group now has five brands in its portfolio: Cocobella (coconut water) Rokeby Farms (yogurt, milk and smoothies), Impressed (cold pressed juice), Schnobs (cold brewed coffee) and the company’s first product, NutrientWater (enhanced water).
The firm employs over 100 people across four office locations (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth). In 2016 it launched its export business and currently sells products in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Later this year Made Group will open a 30,000-square-metre facility in Melbourne as part of a AUD 45 million ($31.9 million) project to support its growth.
The move sees The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Amatil expand their product portfolios away from soft drinks towards healthier, high-growth categories. Through the partnership, Made Group will continue operating independently while being supported by both companies to grow market reach and distribution.
“Our aim is to bring the Made range of products to an even wider audience through our expertise and reach in distribution,” said Alison Watkins, Coca-Cola Amatil managing director.
“There’ll be no changes to the flavours or ingredients. Made Group co-founders Luke Marget and Matt Dennis will stay on in charge of the business and keep doing what they love – developing and producing a fantastic food and beverage range.”
Made Group co-founder Luke Marget believes the company has established a “strong culture of innovation”, and its ability to move quickly and tap into emerging health trends has been a key driver for its success.
“We will continue to run the business with the same great people making the same products in the same way,” he said. “What we will now be able to do is introduce our products to more people both locally and abroad.”
Vamsi Mohan, president of Coca-Cola Australia, said that the investment is another example of how Coca-Cola is transforming into a total beverage company.
“We are always looking to offer the new beverages that Australians want,” he said. “Globally, Coca-Cola has shown that we can build successful new brands through both acquisition and our long history of innovation. This investment is a perfect example of our desire to keep doing this in Australia.
“The Made Group’s capability in agile innovation across its range, which includes premium juices, dairy and coconut water, is the perfect complement to our existing portfolio and growth plans and will help us ensure we provide Australians with beverages for all occasions.”
Earlier this week, Coca-Cola Amatil opened a AUD 165 million ($118.9 million) expansion of its bottling and warehouse facility in Brisbane, Australia, which is now capable of producing more than 90 million unit cases of drinks each year for national and export markets.
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