Asahi is targeting low- & no-alcohol start-ups in the US through a funding programme that will look to acquire minority holdings for the group.
The Asahi Group Beverages & Innovation Fund will commence operations next month and will focus its attention on “the low-alcohol beverages, non-alcohol beer-taste beverages and adult soft drink categories”. The project has been set a spend target of US$70m by the end of 2025.
As well as the beverage categories, Asahi hopes to snare “start-ups with technology that will lead to new sales and manufacturing brand methods”.
“The US is one of the most attractive markets in the world for creating new trends,” said group CEO Atsushi Katsuki. “We look forward to co-creating with start-ups that will open up new markets for alcohol and non-alcohol beverages.”
The company operates Asahi Beer USA, a California-based division that handles the namesake Super Dry, Dry Black and Brewmaster’s Select beer brands in the country.
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