Bionade founders Stephan and Peter Kowalsky will keep the remaining 30%.
“We never wanted Bionade to remain a small, niche soda drink,” said Peter Kowalsky, in charge of Bionade’s marketing and distribution, adding that previous distribution partner Rhönsprudel hadn’t been interested in internationalisation.
Rhönsprudel sold its 51% in Bionade, which it acquired in 2002 in exchange for a loan to then ailing brewer that started Bionade in 1995, to Radeberger as part of the deal.
A financial source close to the matter said Radeberger had beaten off competitors such as Coca-Cola and Nestlé by paying a high double-digit million euro sum for its stake. The companies declined to comment.
Bionade now aims to grow outside of Germany backed by Radeberger’s financial firepower and distribution network. Radeberger’s beer brands include Jever, Schoefferhofer, Clausthaler, Binding, Berliner Pilsner and Sion Koelsch.
Bionade said it aimed to continue to grow at a similar pace as in recent years. It sold 150 million bottles in 2008, up from 4.7 million in 2004.
It aims for sales of about €40m this year, roughly unchanged from last year.
Source: Reuters
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