Sunrise Alliance Beverages, the company behind UK beer maker St Peter’s Brewery, has added Gipsy Hill Brewing Co. to its stable.
“In a time of significant industry challenge, this partnership provides Gipsy Hill with stability and the resources to navigate the evolving market environment,” London-based Gipsy Hill said in a statement today (30 October).
The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Gipsy Hill was set up by co-founders Sam McMeekin and Charlie Shaw in 2014. McMeekin and Shaw will remain with the business.
“This strategic partnership allows us to keep doing what we do best: brewing exceptional beer for our loyal customers,” McMeekin, who serves as managing director, said in a statement.
“Sunrise Alliance Beverages shares our vision for quality, customer service, community, innovation and sustainability. This partnership will empower us to continue to thrive and innovate.”
Just Drinks has approached McMeekin to confirm a report that Sunrise’s intervention has saved Gipsy Hill from possible administration.
Citing a letter sent to shareholders from McMeekin, The Grocer quoted McMeekin as saying “without further funding we would almost certainly be looking at administration”.
McMeekin said in the letter that challenging trading conditions had resulted in a failed crowdfunding campaign to raise £500,000 ($650,592).
Sunrise Alliance Beverages, also an independent, was previously trading as St Peter’s Brewery Group, based in Suffolk in the east of England.
The St Peter’s Brewery beer brand is sold to UK retailers including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Morrisons but the business is “predominantly export-focused”, the brewer told Just Drinks earlier this month as it acquired London-based brewer Portobello Brewing.
The acquisition of Portobello followed the group’s purchase of Curious Brewery for an undisclosed sum in 2023. The deal also included the Wild Beer brand, which Curious itself bought out of administration earlier that same year.
Richard Mather, the CEO of Sunrise, added in the statement announcing the Gipsy Hill deal: “Gipsy Hill is a fantastic business with excellent beers, strong brands and loyal consumers.
“Our union will enable Gipsy Hill to benefit from our group’s collective resources and operational efficiencies while retaining its autonomy and character. We look forward to working with Sam and his team to enhance these strengths as a group of independent UK brewers.”
Gipsy Hill’s brewing operations will also remain unchanged, retaining the values as “one of London’s largest independent breweries”, according to the statement, which added: “Sunrise will invest into Gipsy Hill, demonstrating a strong commitment to support its long-term success”.
