SIBA has purchased a majority shareholding in Flying Firkin Distribution Ltd (FFD) as part of its commercial strategy to develop routes to market opportunities for its 850 craft brewery members.
FFD has been a specialist distributor of craft cask ale for over 25 years, based in Colne (Lancashire), and has been instrumental in creating and sustaining profitable sales channels for hundreds of British independent craft breweries to the On Trade throughout the UK.
In recent times the national distribution network of the entire UK beer industry has been rationalised and restructured and SIBA has been seeking opportunities to expand routes to market beyond the direct delivery by brewery scheme element of SIBA BeerFlex.
Mike Benner, SIBA Chief Executive, said, “This purchase creates an exciting opportunity for SIBA to progress its commercial objectives to fulfil local to national demand for craft beer and firmly establish SIBA as the category leader in British craft-brewed beer. We are committed to delivering the future of British beer by creating a sustainable marketplace for professional brewing businesses and our commercial plans reflect this vision.”