Founders Brewing Co. Sells Partial Ownership to Spanish Brewer Mahou San Miguel
GRAND RAPIDS, MI—Founders Brewing Co. has announced a partnership with Mahou San Miguel, who is coming on as a minority investor with 30% ownership in the brewery.
The partnership will help Founders grow through Mahou’s international distribution network to access the emerging craft beer community around the world. Founders and Mahou are focused on long-term strategic growth, with a commitment to brand longevity and product quality. “Founders will remain Founders,” with continuity in their recipes, processes, facility and staff.
“We knew that taking on a partner was the necessary, responsible thing to do for the future of Founders because it would open up new doors for growth as well as ensure our legacy for years to come,” said CEO and Co-Founder Mike Stevens. “We spent a long time determining who would be the best partner to help us grow Founders while staying true to our beers and our culture. Mahou shares our family values and a commitment to their communities; they also believe in the importance of long-term partnerships. We are honored to be working with a brewer that commands so much respect.”
“Our investment in Founders is a great source of learning, innovation and transformation for Mahou San Miguel to get directly involved in the U.S. craft market,” said Javier López del Hierro, President of Mahou San Miguel. “It’s the most valuable beer market worldwide, a market that sets consumer trends, with excellent prospects for growth. Founders combines product excellence with a level of business acumen that stands out in the craft beer segment.”
Robert W. Baird & Co. is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Founders Brewing Co. in the transaction. Greenberg Traurig is acting as the company’s legal advisor. The deal is expected to close in January 2015.
About Founders Brewing Co.
Established in 1997 by two craft beer enthusiasts—Dave Engbers and Mike Stevens—with day jobs and a dream, Founders Brewing Co. brews complex, in-your-face ales, with huge aromatics and tons of flavor. Founders ranks among the top 30 largest craft breweries in the U.S. and is one of the fastest growing. The brewery has received numerous awards from the World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival, and RateBeer and BeerAdvocate users often rate its beers among the best in the world. Located in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, Founders is a proud member of the Michigan Brewers Guild. For more information, visit www.foundersbrewing.com.
About Mahou San Miguel
100% family-owned, Mahou San Miguel has been Spain’s leading brewing company for 125 years. The company has eight brewing centers, seven in Spain and one in India, as well as two water springs and associated packaging plants, managed by a team of more than 2,500 professionals. Founded in Madrid in 1890, Mahou purchased San Miguel Brewery in 2000, followed by the incorporation of Canary Islands brand Reina in 2004 and Cervezas Alhambra in 2007. It also diversified its business with the acquisition of Solán de Cabras, a natural mineral water, in 2011. The company’s extensive national beer portfolio includes category leaders such as Mahou Cinco Estrellas, San Miguel Especial, Alhambra Reserva 1925 and San Miguel ECO, Spain’s first organic beer. The brewery also distributes a wide range of quality international beers in Spain as a result of agreements with partners such as Carlsberg and Warsteiner. Mahou San Miguel recently announced plans to develop the Mahou Beer Museum in Madrid’s historic city center to celebrate the family’s longstanding ties to Spain’s brewing culture. For more information, visit www.mahou-sanmiguel.com.
“ahou shares our family values and a commitment to their communities;”
This is not true, I live in same city where Mahou is based, Madrid, and the only thing they do is sponsor corporate and guvermamental events, which only benefit themselves, even creating a false brand “Cervecera independiente” (independent brewery) to host craft beer events
This is just business, which isn’t bad, but for sure Mahou would only care about founders as long as they are profitable
Cheers
Any word from Brewers Association?
I am a beer lover and got the belly to prove it, please don’t let this big business deal change what you have done up to this time. I like mostly all of the beers in your menu of brews.. Please keep small brewery ideas while moving up to big brewery output and expansion.. Otherwise you might as well be bud or miller brand and well I (we) don’t won’t that.. Not a slam to them ,,I just love the craft beer market…
What commitment to community? Founders won’t even sell premium beers to small, independent bottle shops unless we purchase large quantities of year round beers and let them sit. Grocery stores should be thrilled by this announcement.
Founders does not control that type of sale. Distributors sell to retail establishments. I know several small independent bottle shops which only receive and sell seasonal or specialty beers from Founders.
To me this is a reward system for those that sell the most beer? How would you feel if you sold a ton of Founders and the mom and pop down the street got a special bottle release and you didn’t?
Always about the all mighty dollar. I’ll stick to local MI owned only beers thank you.
I am willing to drive 3 1/2 hours to New Glarus, Wisconsin to purchase the best beer brewed in the United States! Available in Wisconsin only. I hope the Carey’s never take in outside investors to increase distribution. Worth the drive from central Illinois for me!
Being a ‘founding’ fan since the original Brassworks building brewery, this announcement concerns me. Because I literally buy into the ‘Brewed For Us’ moto, I now wonder how much of this moto will remain true. 70% might not cut it.
I hadn,t known that Mahou had purchased San Miguel in 2000, as the artical states. The Spanish brewed San Miguels were labled “brewed under license of San Miguel, Philippines.
San Miguel philippines started in Manila. Then it opened a branch in Spain. After some years they separated and started operating on their own both of them.
Will never buy Founders again! There are plenty of legit craft beers in Michigan to choose from. Greed always seems to win out in the world of business.
Visiting NYC and just saw a display of Founders in a Duane Reade…. Good to know I can now get tampons and “craft” beer in the same trip!
Lots of fantastic “real” Michigan brewers to choose from – Petoskey Brewery, Beard’s Brewery, Blackrocks, Oredock, New Holland, Keweenah brewing…..