Canada-based Mark Anthony Group has struck a deal to buy ready-to-drink brand The Finnish Long Drink.
In a statement yesterday (13 April), the White Claw owner said the acquisition is intended to “accelerate growth and expand availability” of The Finnish Long Drink across North America.
Mark Anthony has been already managing the Canadian distribution of the product.
The traditional Finnish long drink was created by the Finnish government for the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki as a gin-based, pre-mixed beverage to serve dignitaries at the event.
In 2018, friends Ere Partanen, Evan Burns, Sakari Manninen and Mikael Taipale founded The Long Drink Co. and launched the beverage in the US.
The RTD is available in four variants – Traditional, Zero, Cranberry and Strong – with the latter having an abv of 8.5%, while the regular abv is 5.5%.
Phil Rosse, the CEO of Mark Anthony, said: "Long Drink has already established strong momentum and a clear point of difference in the RTD space, and we see a meaningful opportunity to build on that success by expanding its reach and bringing it to more consumers."
The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
"Joining The Mark Anthony Group of Companies to leverage their track record of scaling iconic RTD brands gives us a huge opportunity to accelerate growth and introduce Long Drink to a much broader audience," Burns said.
Notably, in 2023, US actor Miles Teller acquired an undisclosed “larger ownership stake” in The Long Drink Co.
"With The Mark Anthony Group of Companies, we have the right partner to introduce the brand to even more people without losing what made people enjoy it in the first place", Teller said.
Rosse took on the role of Mark Anthony Group CEO last year, becoming its second chief executive in five decades. He succeeded founder Anthony von Mandl, who established the then Mark Anthony Wine Merchants in 1972.
Headquartered in Vancouver, privately-owned Mark Anthony Group manufactures and distributes wines, spirits and RTDs.
Its divisions include Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits and RTD-focused Mark Anthony Brands. The group’s brands include White Claw, Mike’s Hard Lemonade and Cayman Jack Cocktails.
