C&C Group plc is to acquire all of Asahi UK’s wholesale interests for nominal consideration, including Nectar Imports Ltd and the direct distribution operations of Asahi UK.
Post completion, the businesses will be fully integrated into the group’s Matthew Clark Bibendum (MCB) operations. In addition, MCB will enter into a long-term business partnership associated with Asahi brands in the UK.
The group will assume all customer and supplier relationships and agreements, alongside the intellectual property, a leased depot, and certain assets including vehicles and stock.
Terms have been agreed, with completion due in early October, after which a structured programme of customer transfer will take place.
“This move represents an attractive opportunity to provide a significant number of new customers with MCB market leading service and range proposition, whilst simultaneously delivering immediate scale and efficiency into the group’s operations, in line with our strategy,” said Roger White, chief executive of C&C Group.
“We expect the majority of the customer and supplier transitions to be completed in the coming weeks, and for the acquisition to make a small positive contribution to the overall financial performance of MCB in FY27.”
