ST. LOUIS — Anheuser-Busch is acquiring Hiball Inc., a maker of energy drinks and carbonated juice beverages, as the brewer continues to expand its portfolio beyond beer.
A-B InBev, which has its U.S. headquarters in St. Louis, said the Hiball Energy and Alta Palla sparkling juice brands will benefit from the brewer’s brand-building experience, wholesaler network and operational expertise. Financial terms of the acquisition, slated to close in the third quarter, were not disclosed.
San Francisco-based Hiball was founded by Todd Berardi in 2005 when the entrepreneur began selling drinks out of his car. The company has grown to 20 employees and the carbonated juices and energy drinks are sold nationally, including at CVS and Whole Foods. Berardi and the existing management team will continue to oversee operations, A-B said.
“The combination of Hiball’s category-leading organic energy drinks and Alta Palla’s organic sparkling juices and sparkling waters together with our network and operational know-how will create tremendous growth opportunities for these brands,” Jo?o Castro Neves, president and CEO of Anheuser-Busch, said in a statement.
