Independent brewers Tribe Breweries and Mornington Peninsula Brewery have announced a significant partnership that sees Mornington join the Tribe family and one of its co-founders become a shareholder in Tribe.
Mornington’s co-founder and CEO, Matt Bebe will become a shareholder in Tribe and will also remain at Mornington to lead its team. Both parties have said that all employees at Mornington will continue in their existing roles.
The partnership will see Mornington look to grow its reach both domestically and internationally as its brewing capacity will increase as well as its ability to launch new brews.
“Mornington, like a lot of other independent breweries reached a point where we had to make some strategic decisions about our future,” Bebe said.
“Over the last year we maxed out our brewery but wanted to continue on the journey. Joining Tribe is a great decision for Mornington as we can have our cake and eat it too; continue to be both local and independent while also part of a larger collective group that can provide benefits across the board.
“We are very proud of what we have achieved at Mornington and being a part of Tribe enables us to realise our potential and future aspirations.”
In a joint statement Tribe and Mornington said that the new partnership will enable Mornington to expand while staying owned by a team who are highly passionate about artisan brewing.
Anton Szpitalak, Co-founder and CEO of Tribe Breweries said: “It is an exciting day for Tribe and Mornington. Tribe has an aspiration to become Australia’s number one independent brewer and is firmly committed to working with artisans to realise their dreams.
“Mornington fits perfectly into that vision and with the brewery joining the tribe we take a big step forward on our journey. Mornington is brewing great beers that we know well having brewed some in the past and the team has incredible alignment, we couldn’t ask for more from a new member of the family.”
He added: “We are super excited to be building our ‘tribe’ of great independent brands that are able to maintain their heritage and authenticity. Whether we partner brew their beers, or for them to join us as part of the Tribe portfolio; that diversity of choice and freedom hasn’t really existed ever before in the Australian market.”
This partnership is the latest move in a busy year for Tribe, with a new state-of-the-art ‘craft beverage production facility’ opening in Goulburn later this year. Additionally the company has opened the Stockade Barrel Room in Marrickville, acquired Wilde Gluten Free and set up a joint venture with a Thai partner to create a new beer brand, Chao Siam.