AB InBev has wholly acquired one of Italy’s most popular craft breweries, Birra del Borgo. The partnership will give Birra del Borgo, one of the leading craft brewers in Italy, “a unique opportunity to make the necessary investments for expansion while continuing to independently manage its business and define how to grow” press release states. Birra del Borgo was founded in 2005 and while the terms of the deal have not been revealed, it has been confirmed that the craft brewer’s founder, Leonardo Di Vincenzo, will remain as the CEO. Di Vincenzo added: “The partnership with AB InBev will bring us many advantages, from technological improvements and access to scientific research, to the possibility to grow from a commercial point of view. Moreover, this partnership also means that we will be able to focus much more on what we enjoy most and do best: creating and experimenting with exciting new beers and pushing the boundaries of beer evolution in Italy.” The deal will mean that Birra del Borgo will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of AB InBev, and continues the company’s run of buying craft breweries, having recently bought the Camden Town Brewery in the UK as well as the Breckenridge Brewery, Golden Road Brewing and Four Peaks Brewing Company in the US. AB InBev Italia distributes a broad portfolio of international premium beer brands in Italy, including Beck’s, Corona, Bud, Tennent’s Super, Leffe, Stella Artois, Hoegaarden, Spaten and Franziskaner
AB INBEV SNAPS UP ITALIAN CRAFT BREWER TO REDEFINE BEER MARKET- Simon Wuestenberg, country director for AB InBev Italia, said: “We have been very impressed by what Leonardo and his team have built since 2005. They have been at the forefront of redefining beer in Italy, bringing a unique mix of inspired innovation, quality and consistency. Leonardo’s vision for beer and his passion for brewing will be great inspiration to our whole team and we’re very excited about partnering up and growing together. As a challenger on the Italian market, we have been successfully developing our business with a great portfolio of premium and specialty brands in the last few years. Today, that portfolio becomes even stronger with some of the best of ‘Made in Italy’.”
AB INBEV, THE LAST ACQUISITIONS – The Birra del Borgo purchase is the latest in a string of craft acquisitions that AB InBev has executed as of late. The company most recently acquired Virginia’s Devils Backbone Brewing Company, its eighth U.S. craft brewery purchase since 2011 and its sixth in the last 18 months. Today the beer sector has become very competitive and it necessary to make a next step to ensure that companies continue to evolve in terms of brewing techniques and in terms of the complexity and taste variation industry can offer to consumers. Birra del Borgo’s adventure started recently, in 2005, but it has been yet a great achievement. This global parternship, therefore, allows Birra del Borgo to grow in a sustainable way while staying true to its Italian identity since the very beginning.