Heineken UK has purchased the remaining shares in Beavertown Brewery, assuming full ownership of London’s largest brewery.
As part of the agreement between the two companies, founder Logan Plant will step down as CEO and take on a new advisory role, with Jochen Van Esch taking on the new position of Managing Director. Van Esch has worked for Heineken for over 20 years, moving to the UK business in 2014, when he began as Brewery Operations Director. He currently sits on the Beavertown Brewery board and has worked with the company’s management for five years.
Heineken Uk purchased a minority share in Beavertown in 2018, and since then has invested in developing a new state-of-the-art brewery in North London. Beavertown will continue to be operated separately from Heineken with its own functional teams, including sales, marketing, brewing and wider existing teams.
Plant said: “Beavertown began in my kitchen, ten years ago. From brewing in a rice pan to one of the most successful British brewers in recent years, employing over 160 people and brewing 360,000 hectolitres of beer. Its success is something I could never have predicted back then, and I am extremely proud that we have agreed the deal with Heineken UK, which is the natural next step for Beavertown, its brands, and most importantly, its people.
Boudewijn Haarsma, Managing Director at Heineken UK, added: “This is a hugely positive step, and builds on a partnership that will see Beavertown continue to expand and flourish, while remaining committed to its independent creativity. Heineken will fully support Beavertown’s brand position, inimitable creativity and huge growth potential, and will do so in a way that preserves its unique approach to beer.”
It is expected that the new ownership structure will allow the brand to grow significantly and could see up to 50 new jobs being created.
Heineken noted that Beavertown beer is currently outperforming the market by more than three times, and twice that of its nearest competitor.
