France: Heineken buys minority stake in craft brewer Gallia

Dutch brewing giant Heineken has acquired a minority stake in French craft brewer Gallia in Pantin (Seine-Saint-Denis), Le Figaro reported on September 7.

Gallia was founded 10 years ago and currently employs 15 people. The company intends to launch a new production facility in Sucy-en-Brie (Val-de-Marne) by autumn 2020 and thus add another dozen of jobs. The new brewery’s planned production capacity is 50 thousand hl, whereas Gallia’s total beer sales last year amounted to 7850 hl, or EUR2.4 mln in money terms.

Commenting Heineken’s acquisition, one of Gallia’s founders Jacques Ferté said: “It’s a challenge, but we keep the control over the brand and especially our craft beers.”

“Buying a minority stake isn’t a traditional approach for us. Normally, we acquire full control. For a brewery of this kind to achieve its goals, it has to remain independent,” Heineken France president Pascal Sabrié said.

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