Heineken buys beer and cider brands from Asahi

Asahi Beverages has announced it will sell some of its cider and beer brands to Heineken.

The Japanese-owned bottler will remove cider brands Strongbow, Little Green and Bonamy’s, and beer brands Stella Artois and Beck’s, from its portfolio to satisfy conditions set by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

The ACCC set the conditions in April after reviewing Asahi’s acquisition of Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) from the Australian business of Anheuser Busch InBev in a $16 billion deal.

The ACCC said that without selling some of its brands, the acquisition would likely “substantially lessen competition” in the supply of cider and beer products in Australia.

Asahi said there will be no manufacturing job losses nor brewery closures associated with this deal.

The deal remains subject to regulatory approval, which is expected in the fourth quarter of this year.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/monticellllo