AB-InBev nears USD 700 million deal for RTD firm BeatBox
USA | AB-InBev seems keen to push further into Beyond Beer. According to the Wall Street Journal (18 November) the brewer is in talks to buy BeatBox, a US firm from Austin, Texas, whose fruity and highly alcoholic punch and tea drinks made with wine have gained traction with younger Americans.
The deal would value BeatBox at around USD 700 million and could come together soon, assuming the talks do not fall apart, people familiar with the matter told the WSJ.
Founded in 2011, BeatBox is known for its brightly coloured, one litre Tetra-Pak boxes (aka cartons) with screwcaps. Reportedly, it is its highly affordable USD 5 per box price, which has boosted its appeal.
After a very slow start, BeatBox grew sales from USD 1 million in 2017 to USD 175 million in 2024, meaning the USD 700 million price tag could represent a multiple between 3 and 5 times sales.
BeatBox follows the sale of BuzzBallz, another RTD cocktail company, which was acquired by privately-owned US drinks firm Sazerac (Buffalo Trace, Southern Comfort) for reportedly USD 500 million in May 2024.
