Constellation Brands acquires Florida-based Funky Buddha Brewery

09-Aug-2017 - Last updated on 11-Aug-2017 at 08:51 GMT

Constellation Brands will use its distribution reach and infrastructure to expand the sale of Funky Buddha beer nationwide. Pic: Constellation Brands

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Constellation Brands has acquired Florida-based Funky Buddha Brewery as part of the company’s goal to expand its high-end beer segment. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Funky Buddha Brewery was founded by brothers Ryan and KC Sentz in 2010 and its 54,000-square-foot production facility opened in 2013 with a capacity of 45,000 barrels making it the second largest brewer in the state behind Cigar City Brewing Company.

In addition to distribution of its bottled beer throughout Florida, Funky Buddha has a taproom open to the public for onsite beer sales.

The addition of Funky Buddha “advances” the global alcoholic beverage producer’s “strategy in continuing to lead the high-end beer segment,” Constellation Brands executive vice president and president of the beer division, Paul Hetterich, said.

Constellations Brands’ high-end beer portfolio also includes Ballast Point Brewery based in Southern California, acquired for $1bn in December 2015, along with Mexican beer brands Corona and Modelo.

Maintaining ‘bold’ beer approach

“The Sentz family has created a culture of bold creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship,” Hetterich added.

“Combined with our beer division’s market reach, distributor partnerships, consumer insights, and our craft expertise within Ballast Point, will help nurture and develop Funky Buddha’s distinctive brand.”

The Florida brewery uses “culinary-inspired ingredients” to brew year round beer including Floridian Hefeweizen and Hop Gun IPA as well as specialty releases such as its Maple Bacon Coffee Porter and Last Snow Coconut Coffee Porter, both of which won gold medal awards by RateBeer in 2016.

“We chose to partner with Constellation because we saw an alignment in vision and felt they gave us the greatest opportunity for growth and development,” Funky Buddha head brewer and president, Ryan Sentz, said.

“Constellation and Funky Buddha share a lot of the same ideals.”

Ryan and KC Sentz will continue to run day-to-day operations of the Funky Buddha Brewery and its “standard of brewing will remain unchanged,” Constellation Brands said.