Leading premium wine-in-can brand, Bath-based Canned Wine Co., has acquired competing brand The Copper Crew this April. The two brands are founding members of Wine Traders for Alternative Formats (WTAF) having launched in 2020 and together have now won over 30 international awards for their wines. The acquisition aligns with Canned Wine Co.’s continued focus on excelling in the canned format.
Canned Wine Co. CEO Simon Rollings said: “Whilst other brands go to market across numerous alternative formats and traditional bottles, Canned Wine Co. is completely focused on delivering the best possible experience with aluminium cans.”
Co-founder and Head Wine Buyer Ben Franks FRSA added: “There is tremendous opportunity for wine-in-cans and we really are only at the beginning of the market in the UK. We are completely focused on the sector and acquiring Copper Crew means we can now target a new customer demographic with a diversified portfolio of wines and styles.”
The Copper Crew co-founders Oli Purnell and Theo Gough will become minority shareholders in Canned Wine Co. as part of the acquisition, and the pair will continue on as Brand Ambassadors.
On the acquisition, Oli Purnell said: “We’re really excited by this deal because it means we can work together to take Copper Crew to the next level. We have always been impressed with Canned Wine Co, and throughout running Copper Crew have worked closely with them, sharing advice, supporting each other and generally bringing a fresh perspective to the industry. When it came to partnering with another company there were two things we refused to compromise on and that was a commitment to quality and sustainability. Canned Wine Co. have both of these in spades and we already had a great working relationship so I guess you could say the stars aligned”.
Simon Rollings from Canned Wine Co. added: “We’re thrilled Oli and Theo have entrusted The Copper Crew to our team and I’m excited to work with them to grow the brand. This step will take us closer to achieving our vision of Canned Wine Co. as a global mark for quality, sustainability, and talent in wine. We were drawn to Copper Crew’s approachable and fun brand that produces fantastic wines. By teaming up with us, we can take the brand to new heights by bringing in exciting new wines through our network of winemakers and using our sustainability expertise to further minimise the environmental impact. These hand-selected wines, sourced in collaboration with Oli and Theo, will embody everything you’d expect from The Copper Crew!”
The Copper Crew’s wines continue to be available for sale through their network of local independent partners and online at www.coppercrew.co.uk.