Casella takes full ownership of Australian Beer Co.

Casella Family Brands (CFB) has taken full ownership of Australian Beer Co. after Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Australia (CCEP) decided to sell its interest in the business.

The deal sees CCEP complete its exit from the beer and cider categories, following its earlier decision to exit the production, sale and distribution of beer and Magners cider products in Australia.

“The launch of the Australian Beer Co. joint venture in 2013 was our re-entry into the beer market in Australia,” West said.

“ABCo brewed its own brands at the brewery located next door to the Casella winery in Yenda, New South Wales. With CCEP’s exit from the Australian beer and apple cider categories in Australia, the decision to sell our interest in ABCo was the natural next step.

“Casella Family Brands is a highly respected partner, and when we approached them as part of our strategic review of our beer and cider strategy, John and his team were keen to explore the opportunity to take full ownership of ABCo.”

West added: “We have had a terrific partnership with Casella Family Brands for almost a decade now and exit on good terms. We genuinely wish them the very best for the future.”

CFB Managing Director John Casella said he was excited for the future of ABCo and that he had enjoyed working with CCEP.

“ABCo is an exciting business led by a state-of-the-art brewery, and we welcomed the opportunity to acquire full ownership,” he said.

“We will endeavor to maintain the excellent relationships the CCEP team has established with customers in the beer and cider category in Australia. We have enjoyed partnering with CCEP to grow ABCo’s business, and we both leave the joint venture arrangement on excellent terms”.

Casella Family Brands will take over full ownership of ABCo from 1 July 2022.