Duvel Moortgat acquires stake in London Kombucha brewer

Quickly picking up on consumer trends, the privately-owned Belgian brewer Duvel Moortgat bought a 60 percent stake in London's JARR Kombucha, which produces a range of fermented teas. The transaction became public on 22 November 2018, although no financial details were disclosed.

JARR was founded in Hackney Wick in 2015. Under the new partnership with Duvel Moortgat, JARR will increase production, gain access to Duvel's UK distribution network, and will use the funds raised from the acquisition to develop a new site in London. The company will continue to be run by its four founders.

The acquisition will strengthen Duvel's position in the non-alcoholic drinks market. Over in the US, brewer Molson Coors bought a majority stake in California's Clearly Kombucha in June this year, which produces a range of organic, gluten-free, vegan and kosher fermented tea beverages.

Counting JARR, Duvel Moorgat now has 11 breweries in its portfolio, most of them in Belgium, including Brasserie d'Achouffe in Houffalize, Brouwerij De Koninck in Antwerp, and Brouwerij Liefmans in Oudenaarde. It also owns Brouwerij Bernard in the Czech Republic, Brewery Ommegang in New York, Boulevard Brewing in Kansas City, Firestone Walker in California, Brouwerij 't IJ in Amsterdam, and a controlling stake in Italy's Birrificio del Ducato.

In its 2017 financial year it had a turnover of EUR 428 million (USD 487 million), up nearly 7 percent on the previous year.