2012 Top 100: Beverages
Merger and acquisitions continue to transform the beverage list year after year, but growth remains steady for the majority. Look back at how the major beverage leaders grew market share in 2011.
The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company acquired the remaining portion of Honest Tea early in 2011, completing a transaction that began three years ago when Coca-Cola purchased a minority stake in the company. Honest Tea, a leading organic bottled tea company, now operates as a stand-alone business under TeaEO Seth Goldman. Since receiving an investment from Coca-Cola, Honest Tea made exciting progress in a variety of areas, including the expansion of Honest Tea distribution from approximately 15,000 outlets in 2008 to more than 75,000 as of March 2011, the introduction of a ground-breaking Honest Tea plastic bottle that uses 22 percent less material, and doubling the number of offerings as well as the sales of organic, zero-calorie drinks.
Grupo Modelo S.A.B. de C.V.
Corona became a global flagship brand alongside Budweiser for Anheuser-Busch Inbev when the leading brewer purchased the remaining stake of Grupo Modelo for $20.1 billion in June 2012. The combination brings together seven of the top 10 most valuable beer brands in the world, each with distinct brand imagery and consumer positioning. The combined company also unites Grupo Modelo’s No. 1 position in the world’s fourth largest profit pool with AB InBev’s leading global position, further increasing AB InBev’s exposure to fast-growing developing markets. In a related transaction, Grupo Modelo sold its existing 50 percent stake in Crown Imports to Constellation Brands for $1.85 billion, giving Constellation Brands 100 percent ownership and control.
Foster’s Group Ltd.
On December 16, 2011, Foster’s Group Limited in Australia officially became a part of SABMiller. The acquisition provides SABMiller with exposure to Australia’s strong economic growth prospects, a leading position in the stable and profitable Australian beer industry, and the opportunity to apply capabilities and scale to improve Foster’s financial and operating performance. By the end of fiscal year 2012, the integration of the Foster’s business had reportedly progressed very well despite the loss of some brand licenses, which was a known risk at the time of acquisition. Earlier in 2011, Foster’s Group Ltd. demerged Treasury Wine Estates in a move overwhelmingly supported by shareholders.
The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company acquired the remaining portion of Honest Tea early in 2011, completing a transaction that began three years ago when Coca-Cola purchased a minority stake in the company. Honest Tea, a leading organic bottled tea company, now operates as a stand-alone business under TeaEO Seth Goldman. Since receiving an investment from Coca-Cola, Honest Tea made exciting progress in a variety of areas, including the expansion of Honest Tea distribution from approximately 15,000 outlets in 2008 to more than 75,000 as of March 2011, the introduction of a ground-breaking Honest Tea plastic bottle that uses 22 percent less material, and doubling the number of offerings as well as the sales of organic, zero-calorie drinks.
Grupo Modelo S.A.B. de C.V.Corona became a global flagship brand alongside Budweiser for Anheuser-Busch Inbev when the leading brewer purchased the remaining stake of Grupo Modelo for $20.1 billion in June 2012. The combination brings together seven of the top 10 most valuable beer brands in the world, each with distinct brand imagery and consumer positioning. The combined company also unites Grupo Modelo’s No. 1 position in the world’s fourth largest profit pool with AB InBev’s leading global position, further increasing AB InBev’s exposure to fast-growing developing markets. In a related transaction, Grupo Modelo sold its existing 50 percent stake in Crown Imports to Constellation Brands for $1.85 billion, giving Constellation Brands 100 percent ownership and control.
Foster’s Group Ltd.On December 16, 2011, Foster’s Group Limited in Australia officially became a part of SABMiller. The acquisition provides SABMiller with exposure to Australia’s strong economic growth prospects, a leading position in the stable and profitable Australian beer industry, and the opportunity to apply capabilities and scale to improve Foster’s financial and operating performance. By the end of fiscal year 2012, the integration of the Foster’s business had reportedly progressed very well despite the loss of some brand licenses, which was a known risk at the time of acquisition. Earlier in 2011, Foster’s Group Ltd. demerged Treasury Wine Estates in a move overwhelmingly supported by shareholders.