Editor's Pick

Heineken snaps up London craft brewer Beavertown

Beavertown has become the latest craft brewer to be swallowed up by the global drinks corporation Heineken after the brewer bought the 51% of the company it did not already own.

The Dutch multinational bought a minority stake in Beavertown in 2018, with the £40m proceeds used to fund expansion, including the construction of a new brewery in Enfield, London.

Heineken’s deep pockets have since helped the craft brewer’s sales almost triple from £12.7m in 2018 to £35m in 2020, the last year before sales were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Beavertown’s growth has been underpinned by its increased production capacity and a partnership with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, including an on-site brewery serving more than 60,000 people at every match.

Heineken said on Wednesday it has now bought the remaining 49% stake from Logan Plant, the son of the Led Zeppelin frontman, Robert, in a deal that adds Beavertown’s name to a long list of craft brewers to have challenged big beer companies, only to be bought out.

Landmark buyouts in the sector include Camden Brewery’s sale to the Budweiser owner, AB InBev, SABMiller’s purchase of Meantime, Carlsberg’s takeover of London Fields and Heineken’s acquisition of a stake in Brixton brewery.

The flood of money-spinning takeovers has raised questions about the meaning of the term craft brewer, a label that some in the industry see as requiring independence from ownership by a major corporation.

Beavertown said 50 jobs could be created as a result of the takeover. It did not disclose the price tag but its growth since Heineken’s initial £40m investment indicates that Plant’s stake is likely to have been sold for tens of millions of pounds.

Plant, who will step down as chief executive to act as an adviser, said: “Beavertown began in my kitchen, 10 years ago: from brewing in a rice pan to one of the most successful British brewers in recent years, employing over 160 people and brewing 360,000 hectolitres of beer.

“Its success is something I could never have predicted back then, and I am extremely proud that we have agreed the deal with Heineken, which is the natural next step for Beavertown, its brands and, most importantly, its people.”

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Most Popular

Your daily news source covering investing ideas, market stocks, business, retirement tips from Wall St. to Silicon Valley.

Disclaimer:

TheProficientInvestor.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively "The Company") do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice.
The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

Copyright © 2021 TheProficientInvestor. All Rights Reserved.

To Top