US brewer Molson Coors has expanded its portfolio of soft drink brands with the acquisition of California-based Clearly Kombucha from Top Shelf Beverages for an undisclosed sum.
Clearly Kombucha will become part of Molson Coors’s MillerCoors business, and will be incorporated into the Tenth & Blake craft and speciality import division.
Kombucha is one of the fastest-growing segments of the packaged soft drinks market, and Molson Coors stated that projections estimate that the category will grow more than 23% from 2018 to 2024.
Clearly Kombucha produces six non-alcoholic flavours of the fermented tea drink, which is made by fermenting black or green tea with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast called SCOBY.
All of the cold-filtered kombucha drink in the brand’s product range are certified organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, and vegan.
Pete Marino, president of Tenth and Blake said: “We believe the kombucha category is in its early stages.
“Molson Coors, MillerCoors, and Tenth and Blake are ideally suited to help Clearly Kombucha grow in the years ahead by driving greater awareness, strengthening its brand reputation and boosting retail availability.”
A statement form Clearly Kombucha added: “We have officially partnered with Molson Coors Brewing Company, which will allow us to grow the CK brand in exciting ways.
“Rest assured we will remain heavily involved in the business, crafting authentic fermented beverages while leveraging new and exciting expertise in developing great flavors, innovation, and amplifying our portfolio of products to provide more options to more people in more places.”
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