Anheuser-Busch InBev continues its neverending expansion and acquisitions, though this time it isn’t a local brewery being bought out—the goliath beer company has recently purchased The Atom Group, Forbes reports, a parent organization to three spirit distributors, including Master of Malt, a major online whiskey retailer.
The acquisition was executed by ZX Ventures, AB InBev’s “innovation arm”, for an undisclosed sum. Besides Master of Malt, Atom Group (and now AB InBev) owns
That Boutique-y Whisky, a whisky bottling company, and
Maverick Drinks, a distributor.
What this means for these companies’ US sales is unclear—currently, the US operates within a three-tier system, meaning a single company cannot own the production, distribution, and retail branches of an alcoholic product. Some states, like California, allow for a producer to also distribute their own beer, while other states, like Oregon, act as the sole distributor for all liquor. But on a national level, AB InBev might find it hard to continue distribution with its new property, considering its status as a producer. Still, the company is no doubt looking for ways around that.
Photo via Flickr User Blog Tyrant
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