Duvel Moortgat reaches agreement to buy De Koninck brewery

In the past few months, since it was leaked to the press that de Koninck was up for grabs, mainly foreign brewers were rumoured to be interested in buying the struggling brewer, Heineken among them.

To the Belgians, seeing de Koninck go to a non-Belgian buyer seemed downright preposterous. That is why the news that another Flemish brewer, Duvel, clinched the deal was met with applause.

Michel Moortgat, the CEO of Duvel Moortgat, stoked hopes for de Koninck’s reversal of fortune when he commented: “We are very pleased to be able to incorporate Brouwerij De Koninck into the Duvel Moortgat Group. The “Bolleke” is not only a strong brand but also a quality specialty beer that fits perfectly into Duvel Moortgat’s range (Duvel, Chouffe, Maredsous, Liefmans, Vedett, Bel Pils). Our international distribution network provides an ideal operating base to progressively develop de Koninck. It did not take us long to reach agreement: family values and traditions are concepts that both breweries feel strongly about.”