AB InBev has revealed plans for its US brewing arm to acquire a majority stake in BeatBox for a purchase price of up $490m (£368m).
The brewing giant called BeatBox “a rising star” in the ready-to-drink beverage category and said the brand was known for its “bold, fruit-forward ‘Party Punch’ flavours”.
Anheuser-Busch, which brews Budweiser, Bud Light and Michelob, will take an 85% stake in the business initially, with a path to full ownership laid out after five years.
Founded in 2011, BeatBox gained national interest following an appearance on Shark Tank – a US version of Dragons’ Den – where it won a record $1m investment.
Today, it is the bestselling single container RTD in convenience outlets and is sold in 130,000 retail locations across all 50 state.
The wine-based brand landed in the UK in October thanks to a distribution deal, with its resealable cartons available in Morrisons nationwide.
“We could not be more excited to welcome BeatBox, one of the fastest-growing RTD brands in the industry, to our portfolio,” said Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth.
“I have spent the past year getting to know Justin and the team at BeatBox, and I’m confident that their entrepreneurial spirit, their commitment to consistent innovation, and their ability to connect with their consumers will be a strong complement to our existing team and capabilities. We have a proven playbook for building winning brands, and I look forward to partnering with BeatBox and embarking on their next chapter of dynamic growth together.”
BeatBox co-founder and CEO Justin Fenchel added: “When we started BeatBox in 2011, we could never have imagined the journey that lay ahead. We’ve been so fortunate to build something that truly resonates with people, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported us along the way.
“Our long-standing relationships with the Anheuser-Busch team made this partnership feel like the right next step. With Anheuser-Busch behind us, we are excited for the chance to accelerate our growth and continue doing what we love for years to come – bringing people together and making the world more fun.”
BeatBox generated more than $340m in retail sales in the US in the 52 week to 23 November 2025, with a growth rate of in excess of 50% year-over-year, according to Circana.
Jefferies analyst Edward Mundy said the deal signalled a “further blurring of the lines between beer/spirits/wine”.
“Consumers want products that are approachable, portable and good value,” he added. “We think BeatBox delivers on all three and complements AB InBev’s ‘Beyond Beer’ strategy.”
Mundy said BeatBox’s appeal rested with its unique flavour-forward product, innovative resealable packaging, value for money, marketing and distribution benefits as unlike with spirits, the wine-based product can access c-stores across the US.
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