C&C Group, the Glasgow and Dublin-based drinks group behind Tennent’s, has agreed to acquire the wholesale operations of Asahi UK for nominal consideration, in a deal that will extend the reach of its Matthew Clark Bibendum distribution arm and bring the Japanese brewer’s UK route-to-market under C&C control.
Announced through the London Stock Exchange on 11 September, the transaction perimeter comprises Nectar Imports Ltd, an on-trade drinks supplier based in Wiltshire, together with Asahi UK’s own direct distribution operations. Once complete, both businesses will be fully integrated into Matthew Clark Bibendum, the wholesale division that already positions C&C as what it describes as the number one drinks distributor to the UK and Ireland hospitality sectors.
Under the agreement Matthew Clark Bibendum will also enter into a long-term business partnership associated with Asahi brands in the UK, and will take on the supply arrangements for Fuller, Smith & Turner’s on-trade estate. C&C will assume all customer and supplier relationships and agreements alongside the intellectual property, a leased depot and certain assets including vehicles and stock.
Completion is expected in early October, after which a structured programme of customer transfer will migrate acquired customers on to Matthew Clark Bibendum’s operational, commercial and supply chain infrastructure. C&C said the acquisition would make a small positive contribution to the overall financial performance of Matthew Clark Bibendum in the 2027 financial year.
Roger White, chief executive officer of C&C Group, said: “This move represents an attractive opportunity to provide a significant number of new customers with MCB market leading service and range proposition whilst simultaneously delivering immediate scale and efficiency into the Group’s operations, in line with our strategy. We expect the majority of the customer and supplier transitions to be completed in the coming weeks, and for the acquisition to make a small positive contribution to the overall financial performance of MCB in FY27.”
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Alongside the deal the Dublin-headquartered group, whose portfolio includes Tennent’s, Bulmers, Magners and Innis & Gunn, said trading in the six months to 31 August 2026 had been in line with expectations. Net revenues were 3 per cent below the prior year on a constant currency basis, with a 2 per cent rise in branded revenues offset by a 4 per cent decline in distribution revenues. Underlying operating profit for the first half is anticipated in the range of €43m to €44m. Interim results will be published on 28 October.
