KBE Drinks announces arrival of Yeastie Boys craft beers to its portfolio

KBE Drinks, the premium world beer and cider company has announced an exciting new deal with the Yeastie Boys Brewing Company.

KBE Drinks will become the exclusive UK distributer for Yeastie Boys’ range of award-winning craft beers whilst also taking an equity stake in the business.

This truly symbiotic arrangement with the Yeastie Boys brand fills an important gap in KBE Drinks’ extensive portfolio, whilst also supporting their own desire for growth.

Yeastie Boys Brewing Company was founded in New Zealand thirteen years ago. Their aim was to bring interesting and innovative craft beers to their home country, and in 2015 they started brewing in the UK.

With much lauded beers like Gunnamatta and Pot Kettle Black, they have made a big impact on the UK craft scene and achieved extensive distribution in specialist craft beer pubs, not to mention major off-trade retailers like Majestic Wine and Waitrose and continuing that expansion into the mainstream off-trade has been identified as an exciting opportunity.

KBE Drinks was set-up over thirty years ago to distribute India’s number one beer, Kingfisher, to the UK and throughout Europe. The last five years have seen a period of rapid growth as they’ve curated an intriguing and differentiated selection of brands from all over the globe including Sagres from Portugal, Dos Equis from Mexico and Lion from Sri Lanka.

They have a comprehensive network of on-trade customers across restaurants, pubs, bars, hotels, sports stadia and festivals, and are looking to continue their expansion into the off-trade. And whilst KBE Drinks is proud of its broad range of world lagers, they have a gap in their portfolio for a credible craft beer brand.

Initially, this partnership will look to capitalise on the current trend for flavourful yet easy-drinking lagers and pale ales from credible craft brewers. KBE Drinks will be focused on driving distribution for Big Mouth Session IPA and brand-new super drinkable lager, Superfresh. The outlook is very positive as prior, to the pandemic, Yeastie Boys sales had grown by 533% is just four years!

Shaun Goode, Chief Operating Officer of KBE Drinks, comments, “Everyone is thrilled to be adding Yeastie Boys to the KBE Drinks family. In recent years, craft beer has continued its march into the mainstream and is now a must stock for any premium pub or bar. Combining Yeastie Boys great beers with our commercial reach should be a match made in heaven and I would encourage retailers to check out the range and stock up!”

Stu McKinlay, co-founder of Yeastie Boys, adds “We're elated to be partnering up with KBE Drinks. They bring just the sort of market knowledge and expertise that we need to take Yeastie Boys to the next level, while allowing our small team to continue concentrating on brand, quality, and key relationships. We talked to several interested parties over the last couple of years and KBE stood head and shoulders above everyone else. There will be no stopping us now!”