Wild Rose approves sale to Sleeman

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – An Alberta-based brewing company has officially approved its sale to a Japanese-owned brewery.

Wild Rose Brewery Ltd. has been acquired by Sleeman Breweries Ltd. after an approval vote by shareholders on Thursday.

The Brewery has been a staple in Alberta and the craft brewing community for the past 22 years.

CEO of Wild Rose Bill McKenzie says the move is good for the company and other craft beer makers.

“If you keep making great beer, good things are going to happen for you. It’s a display of how our culture is perceived. I think with the expansion of the craft category over the last few years, it’s been good for everybody.”

This is not the first acquisition for the company founded by John Sleeman in 1988. Sleeman began as a small craft brewery and has since grown exponentially, in part, through the purchase of small local craft brewers.

“We recognize that Alberta is a province with high growth potential and see a number of synergies between Wild Rose and Sleeman that make this partnership extremely exciting for both organizations,” said Jesse Hanazawa, president and CEO of Sleeman Breweries. “Not only do our businesses share a passion for craft beer, but we also share the drive to achieve industry excellence while maintaining a winning organizational culture. We look forward to working closely with the Wild Rose team to ensure both they and Sleeman are able to reap the many benefits of this strategic partnership.”

The deal will be finalized on May 31, 2019, and McKenzie says consumers have nothing to worry about.

“This won’t affect our beer at all. It’s the same ingredients, same beer, same great Calgary water. Our beer is one of the main reasons why we’re in this situation and we’re not going to mess with that.”

As for the future of jobs, he says the partnership will look to strengthen its focus in Alberta, meaning jobs are here to stay and more could be added in the future.