Soft drinks supplier Cawston Press has expanded its reach into the rapidly growing no & low alcohol category with the acquisition of Loah for an undisclosed sum.
Founded in 2020 by Hugo Tapp and Will Hedley, Loah makes a three-strong range of fruit-forward non-alcoholic beer.
Tapp will continue to lead the business in the wake of the deal, retaining operational responsibility for brewing, innovation and brand development, with the integration into Cawston Press providing benefits from shared supply chain, distribution and marketing resources.
Cawston Press said the acquisition capitalised on the ongoing consumer trend for moderating alcohol consumption.
“This move is a true reflection on consumer drinking habits today,” Cawston MD Steve Kearns said. “The lines between soft drinks and no & low alcohol are blurring and this makes Loah a great strategic fit for us.
“It’s a brand built on fruit, flavour and quality, just like Cawston Press. We see real opportunity to help build Loah through our established grocery and impulse distribution channels, whilst extending the portfolio we can offer to on-trade customers, helping operators create interesting, independent-led menus crafted to serve multiple drinking occasions.”
Loah’s three beers (peach pale ale, blood orange IPA) are naturally brewed to under 0.5% abv, and gluten-free and vegan.
The brand raised £430k in a crowdfunding campaign in 2023 to expand its retail distribution and grow its on-trade exposure.
“Over the last five years, we’ve watched no & low-alcohol beer shift from a token presence to a dynamic category,” Tapp added. “Working with Cawston Press will allow us to take our beers to the next level, with a reformulated range that tastes better than ever. Joining the Cawston family gives Loah the chance to reach real scale while staying true to its mission: to make alcohol-free beer more fruitful.”
The updated Loah range will be available to trade customers via Cawston Press with immediate effect.
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