After rejecting its spirits business, CCA has decided to buy Fosters soft drinks arm

After rejecting its spirits business, CCA has decided to buy Foster's soft drinks arm

Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) is to buy the Foster's Group's non-alcohol brands as part of its rights acquired from the fallout of SABMiller's takeover of Foster's last year.

CCA has informed the Victoria-based group it has "elected to purchase" the brands, including Cascade Apple Isle, Traditionals and Real Juice brands, Ultra-C and Torquay mineral and spring water, a Foster's spokeperson told just-drinks today (7 June). However, CCA will not be acquiring any of the Cascade or Cottonwood Valley production assets, the spokesperson added. 

As a result of SABMiller's takeover of Foster's last year, CCA, which operated a beer JV in Australia with SABMiller, obtained the right to acquire Foster's Australian spirits and non-alcoholic beverages operations and the group's Fiji Breweries and distillery in Fiji and Samoa.

In March, however, CCA turned down the chance to buy Foster's Australian spirits business. 

On the takeover of the soft drinks brands, the Foster's spokersperon said it will be "some time before we know the finer detail and timing of the sale", but added that Foster's remains "committed to the Cascade brewery site and there is no impact to our beer and cider operations".

The sale is not expected to mean major job losses at Foster's. according to a local report, as most of the soft drink production staff also work at the Cascade brewery.

The Foster's spokesperson told just-drinks: "We’ve briefed our people and will continue to provide support and information to them over coming weeks." 

Meanwhile, the transfer of Foster's Pacific businesses, is expected to be finalised "in the next two months" the spokeperson added.