Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Anthony von Mandl to Acquire Central City Brewing
Anthony von Mandl’s Mark Anthony Group has been approved to purchase Surrey-based Central City Brewers & Distillers Ltd. out of creditor protection, with the sale set to close on February 28. Von Mandl’s bid outpaced eight other potential buyers, though the value was not disclosed.
Central City’s longtime owner, Darryll Frost, expressed confidence in von Mandl’s ability to transform the brewery, citing his success with ventures like Mike’s Hard Lemonade and his renowned Mission Hill Estate Winery.
Von Mandl’s history with alcohol ventures includes launching Clark’s Great Canadian Beer and introducing Corona to Canada. He later created the White Claw brand in 2016, which became hugely successful in the U.S. His wealth has soared, with Forbes estimating his net worth at $5.1 billion.
Central City Brewing entered creditor protection in November, leading to an auction with 249 parties expressing interest. The Mark Anthony Group’s bid was finalized on February 13.
Prime Drink Group, a Canadian beverage holding company, is undertaking a restructuring of its bottling subsidiary Triani Canada, which operates under the name Prime Bottling.
The move follows on from the results of “an objective third-party financial analysis” of business operations”, the group said in a statement. continues at finance.yahoo.com
Ottawa brewery launches national beer collaboration: Glorious & Free
Also, Minister Pascale St-Onge and Liberal MP Darrell Samson won’t run again in next election, Dr. Theresa Tam receives King Charles Coronation medal, and reporter Emily Haws joins The Globe and Mail. continues at hilltimes.com
Tim Hortons Drops Non-Dairy Milk Surcharge in Canada and the US
Tim Hortons has confirmed it will eliminate the surcharge for plant-based milk in both Canada and the US following advocacy efforts from organizations including Switch4Good, PETA, and Mercy For Animals, aligning with other major chains removing financial barriers to more sustainable and ethical choices. continues at vegconomist.com
Drinks industry less optimistic than a year ago – study
Drinks businesses are feeling less optimistic about future growth compared to twelve months ago, according to accountancy firm Johnston Carmichael’s annual Food and Drink Report.
The company found that 58% of food and drink businesses in Scotland and the UK (from a sample of 100) felt positive about growth in 2025, a 10% drop from last year. Continues at drinksretailingnews.co.uk
Geopolitics, trade wars and Gen Z: What’s next for the future of drinks?
At Wine Paris last week, industry leaders discussed the impact of geopolitical tensions on the global drinks trade. While challenges remain, the panel identified areas of opportunity—from technology to evolving trade dynamics and engaging younger consumers. continues at thedrinksbusiness.com
Applebee’s Releases $6 Tipsy Leprechaun Cocktail
Applebee’s guests are in luck – Saintly Sips cocktails are back! Now for a limited time, guests can sip their way into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit with the $6 Tipsy Leprechaun featuring Jameson Irish Whiskey or the new Golden Goose featuring Grey Goose Vodka! continues at fsrmagazine.com
Why Brewers Look to Space for Inspiration
Heineken named ‘best supplier’ in on-trade report
The beer, cider and pub company recently achieved the highest score of 65 in 2024’s Advantage Report Voice of the Customer, showing that it was significantly outperforming its competitors, with a score of 19 marking the average for the 26 participating suppliers included. continues at thedrinksbusiness.com