Heineken UK has assumed full ownership of London's Beavertown Brewery after purchasing the remaining shares in the business.
In 2018, Heineken UK acquired a minority stake in Beavertown, and has since invested in developing a new state-of-the-art brewery in North London.
The companies have agreed to a new ownership structure, which Heineken says would allow the brand to grow significantly and could see the creation of up to 50 new jobs.
Boudewijn Haarsma, managing director at Heineken UK said, "This is a hugely positive step, and builds on a partnership that will see Beavertown continue to expand and flourish, while remaining committed to its independent creativity.
"Heineken will fully support Beavertown’s brand position, inimitable creativity and huge growth potential, and will do so in a way that preserves its unique approach to beer."
New Ownership Structure
The new ownership structure will see founder Logan Plant step down as CEO and take on a new advisory role, while Jochen Van Esch will take on the role of managing director.
Plant commented, “Beavertown began in my kitchen, ten years ago. [...] Its success is something I could never have predicted back then, and I am extremely proud that we have agreed the deal with Heineken UK which is the natural next step for Beavertown, its brands, and most importantly, its people."
“The culture of Beavertown is incredibly important – our unique creativity in our design and marketing, our drive to brew the very best tasting beers, and the passion for excellence at the moment people order a pint – and this is something that will continue. With Heineken UK, we have a partner who provides support, advice and investment, and gives us the space to flourish.”
Beavertown will continue to operate separately, with its own functional teams including sales, marketing, brewing and wider existing teams, Heineken UK noted.
Van Esch has been a part of Heineken for more than 20 years, and has been at Heineken UK since 2014, when he began as brewery operations director.
He commented, “I’ve worked closely alongside Logan and the team for five years now, during which the new brewery has been built, we’ve opened the first Beavertown pub, and the brand has become one of the most popular super-premium beers in the country.
“Beavertown’s journey will not see huge change because the strategy is right – the brand is in growth, it has a fantastic culture and work ethos and people love the beers. We will support, invest and grow the company, and I am incredibly excited about the future.”
Beavertown outperformed the market by more than three times, and twice that of its nearest competitor, Heineken UK noted citing data from MAT CGA/Nielsen to 21 May 2022.
© 2022 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest drinks news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
