High Brew, a widely available American ready-to-drink coffee brand, has sold a controlling stake to Argentina-based Beliv, “the fastest-growing better-for-you beverage global company in Latin America,” which already has a portfolio of more than 40 brands and a presence in 30 countries.
78% of the American company was sold to Beliv, with the remaining shares continuing to be held by its founder, David Smith, and current investors. Price of the deal was not disclosed.
High Brew was founded in 2013 by Smith, who created Sweet Leaf Tea and sold it to Nestlé in 2011, and since has founded Live Kombucha Soda and Rhythm Superfoods.
High Brew cans are found in many grocery stores across the U.S. “Due to the cold extraction process, it naturally contains more antioxidants, enhancing its original flavor and significantly reducing the characteristic acidity of the traditional brewing method,” today’s news release said. “High Brew has an 8-oz. can available in 11 flavors, all of them 100% natural and low in sugar: Double Espresso, Mexican Vanilla, Dark Chocolate Mocha, Black Triple Shot, Black & Bold, Creamy Cappuccino + Protein, Nitro Caramel Cold Brew, Nitro Cold Brew, Nitro Sweet Cold Brew, Peppermint Mocha and Espresso Triple Shot.”
Beliv was founded in 2009 by Argentine entrepreneur Carlos Sluman. It’s part of Grupo Mariposa, a multinational beverage corporation with a track record of 138 years that operates in the U.S., Canada, Central America, the Caribbean and South America, with the largest product portfolio in the region and distribution in more than 2 million points of sale. Other business units of Grupo Mariposa are CBC (which is a partner of PepsiCo and its oldest bottling company in the world), Bia, Apex and Apex Capital.
