The Bickford’s Group has announced the acquisition of the South Australian brewer Vale Brewing from its current owners, the Collin brothers.
Tim, Pete and Mike Collin have been majority owners since the early stages of the business and took 100 per cent ownership in 2015. The deal will see the Bickford’s Group also take on the Fox Hat Brewing and Dr Pilkington’s Cider brands along with the 3,500 litre brewing facility in Willunga.
The alcohol division of the Bickford’s Group, Vok Beverages, will begin selling and distributing all three brands from the November 1.
Bickford’s said that the primary driver of the sale was “to significantly enhance the ability to grow distribution and scale of the Vale brands via an established, independently owned South Australian beverage business aligned with the vision of the Vale founders”.
Speaking about the sale, Tim Collin said that he was happy to see the brewery staying in South Australia.
“We are thrilled with the outcome of our negotiations with Bickford’s along with the fact that these iconic brands will stay in South Australian hands,” he said.
Established in 2008 in McLaren Vale with one product, the flagship Vale Ale, the brewer has gone on to develop and grow a portfolio of 10 products with distribution in both packaged and draught throughout Australia and multiple international markets.