Duvel Moortgat has announced its acquisition of Brasserie du Mont Blanc, a French brewery located in the Haute-Savoie region of southeastern France. This purchase marks the latest addition to Duvel Moortgat's expanding portfolio of foreign breweries.
The history of Mont Blanc Brewery dates back to the year 1821. However, the brewery as it is known today was established in 1999. Brasserie du Mont Blanc is situated near Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps, and is renowned for brewing its beers using glacier water. In 2022, the brewery employed 60 people and produced 110,000 hectoliters of specialty beers.
While the financial terms of the acquisition remain undisclosed, it has been confirmed that Sylvain Chiron, the founder and shareholder of Brasserie du Mont Blanc, who revived the brewery, will retain “a significant stake” in the brewery.
Duvel Moortgat, founded in 1871 and managed by fourth generation descendant Michel Moortgat, has been steadily diversifying its portfolio over the past few decades, now comprising 11 breweries in 6 countries across Europe, America, and Asia.
Duvel Moortgat, best known for its iconic Duvel beer, is one of the fastest growing brewing groups in Europe. Besides its own business, the company owns 50% of Rodinný Pivovar Bernard in Humpolec/Czech Republic (acquired 2001), Brewery Ommegang from Cooperstown/New York (acquired in 2003), Brasserie d’Achouffe from Houffalize/Belgium (acquired 2006), Brouwerij Liefmans in Oudenaarde/Belgium (acquired 2008), Brouwerij De Koninck from Antwerp/Belgium (acquired 2010), Boulevard Brewing Company from Kansas City/Missouri (acquired 2013), Firestone Walker Brewing Company from Paso Robles/California (acquired 2015), Brouwerij 't IJ from Amsterdam/Netherlands (acquired 2015) and Birrificio del Ducato from Roncole Verdi, (acquired in 2017, inside.beer, 16.7.2017) and CHABA Brewing in Kunming, Yunnan, China.
With the acquisition of Brasserie du Mont Blanc, Duvel Moortgat now adds a French brewery to its global presence for the first time.
In a joint statement, the acquisition is seen as mutually beneficial for both breweries. For Duvel Moortgat, it offers an opportunity to expand its presence in the French market, where its distribution subsidiary already employs 80 individuals. Meanwhile, Brasserie du Mont Blanc gains the support of a like-minded partner as it navigates its growth into adulthood and seeks to reach an even broader audience for its beers. The leadership and teams at Brasserie du Mont Blanc will remain unchanged, with the aim of further enhancing the brewery's standing in the Savoie region.
"Sylvain Chiron and Michel Moortgat, CEO of Duvel Moortgat, are not strangers to each other," the statement adds. "Michel Moortgat's uncle played a role in assisting Sylvain over 20 years ago. Michel and Sylvain have stayed in touch and have ultimately decided to join forces. The two leaders affirm that they share 'the same values.'"
Sylvain Chiron, founder and shareholder of Brasserie du Mont Blanc, expressed confidence in the partnership's future success, stating, "Very confident in the future and fully committed to the project's success, the Société Dolin and I, as founding shareholders, will retain a significant stake in the brewery. We intend to continue this extraordinary journey alongside our new partner and elevate Brasserie du Mont Blanc to new heights."
Since its relaunch in 1999, Brasserie du Mont Blanc has received five world champion awards for its beers. In 2022, the brewery reported a turnover of EUR 30 million.
