Diageo has acquired cold-brew coffee liqueur producer Mr Black, an Australia-based business, for an undisclosed amount.
Mr Black operates a coffee roastery in Sydney, where it produces a coffee liqueur using a cold brew process. The company was founded in 2013 by designer Tom Baker and distiller Philip Moore. Diageo already had shares in the business.
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Since its establishment, Mr Black has grown its foothold in the coffee liqueur category and is now available in 22 countries. While prominent in Australia and the UK, its largest market is the US.
Tom Baker, co-founder of Mr Black said: “Coffee is more than just a drink – it’s a culture, ritual, obsession, aesthetic, experience, tradition and a community. We created Mr Black to embody that culture and inspire people to take their love of coffee into their evening drinks. Diageo understood our vision early on, and now, after several years with them as a supporter, we are thrilled to be joining the Diageo family.”
Diageo acquired a minority stake in the group in 2015. The share purchase in Mr Black was done through the Diageo-backed accelerator programme, Distill Ventures. While Diageo has not disclosed the value of the acquisition, it states the deal has been funded through existing cash resources.
“We believe Mr Black is just getting started in the dynamic coffee liqueur segment. This acquisition is in line with our strategy to acquire high-growth brands in exciting categories,” said Diageo’s president of US spirits, Claudia Schubert.
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