Sadler's sales director Ian King (L) and MD Chris Sadler

Sadler’s sales director Ian King (L) and MD Chris Sadler

Halewood Wines & Spirits has become the majority shareholder in West Midlands brewery Sadler’s Ales.

Sadler’s signed a “far-reaching” deal with the Liverpool distributor, which said the brewery’s Peaky Blinder brand held “huge potential” for the off-trade in the wake of recent shifts towards craft beer in supermarket ranges.

Sadler’s was a “natural fit” with Halewood’s portfolio alongside its investment in fellow craft brewery Hawkshead and Tsingtao, of which it is the UK’s sole distributor, Halewood said.

However, Sadler’s will continue to operate independently, with current MD Chris Sadler remaining in his role.

The investment would give Sadler’s scope to expand its reach “throughout the rest of the UK and internationally”, said Sadler.

The two companies had also worked on “liquid development on a separate project” that would be launched in the next three months, Halewood added.