WA-based functional beverage company, Kommunity Brew, has acquired Melbourne’s Cool Cool Beverage Company (CCBC), seeking to establish a stronger profile and an expanded distribution network.
Adding the Sips Sparkling and Liberty Kombucha brands to its portfolio, the acquisition comes on the heels of the company’s successful equity crowd-funding capital raise earlier this year.
Mason Bagios, CEO at Kommunity Brew, said the factors that drove the purchase included CCBC’s quality distribution network, access to the sparkling water sector, and existing relationships with retail giants such as Coles, Woolworths, and Amazon.
The deal also opens up immediate export opportunities via Sips Sparkling’s shelf-stable product range.
“The integration of CCBC into our business is a major milestone in the evolution of Kommunity Brew, putting us in a strong position to increase our profile in the eastern states while improving operating margins from a Melbourne manufacturing base,” said Bagios.
“The Sips Sparkling and Liberty Kombucha brands and values align with those of Kommunity Brew, represented in their quality, local manufacturing, unique and interesting recipes, and smooth processes.”
He added that CCBC’s “gritty story of humble beginnings” resonated with the team, which started in a backyard shed, and has grown to become one of the leading makers of functional beverages with its kombucha, sparkling prebiotics, health shots, and ranges of cold brew coffee and tea.
“Beverage brands are exceptionally difficult to build, but their creators often demonstrate outstanding innovation,” Bagios said.
“We know to stand out in the FMCG space, you must be bold enough to expand the category and delicious enough to satisfy customers.”
This is Kommunity Brew’s second acquisition after purchasing the Cold Matter Cold Brew brand last year.
