Suntory is not the Japanese company mooted to be in “advanced discussions” with alcohol-free spirit brand owner Arkay Beverages.
The initial claim, made by Arkay around its latest investment round, stated that, in a “major potential development, one of Japan’s largest spirits companies” is currently negotiating to buy 10% of the business for US$150m.
When contacted by Global Drinks Intel yesterday, a spokesperson for Suntory’s Suntory Global Spirits unit said: “There is no fact that we are in discussions with Arkay Beverages.”
On Tuesday (17 June), Arkay, which was founded in 2011 by entrepreneur Reynald Vito Grattagliano, said that a potential transaction would “provide significant strategic access to the Asian market”.
As well as the former Beam Suntory business, which changed its name to SGS in April last year, Suntory also controls its own beer, wine and spirits brands. The group has upped its focus on the “strategically important” RTD category in recent years, with the likes of the -196 and On The Rocks marks.
