The Hills Cider Company and Mismatch Brewing Company have announced they are taking their sales and distribution in-house.
THCC, MMBC and Samuel Smith & Son have made the mutual decision not to renew their exclusive, national distribution agreement, effective July 1, 2019.
It follows the completion of THCC and MMBC’s cellar door and production facilities in the Adelaide Hills, as they approach four million litres of production.
This move will see the end of what has been a mutually successful, long-term partnership.
THCC and MMBC stated they plan to expand their field resource significantly with additional cider and beer sales specialists around the country. This will be marked with an ambition to more than double domestic production, bringing the brands to a broader geographical customer base, and building new opportunities to activate the brands.
Tobias Kline from THCC & MMBC commented: “The decision is difficult as there is immense mutual respect, with both the Samuel Smith business and their partners championing quality first while making inroads into sustainable practices.
“For us, it is more than increasing sales. It is driving our capability of buying more produce from Australian farmers that would otherwise be destined to ‘waste’. This decision will now ultimately give us end-to-end control of our brands and the sales process.”
Paul Midolo – Director, Strategy & Trading at Samuel Smith & Son added: “It has been a pleasure to distribute these independently owned, local craft brands in recent years during a period of exceptional category growth.
“In addition, working with such passionate and knowledgeable people to bring their brand values and stories to life each day has been equally rewarding. The team at Samuel Smith & Son wish THCC and MMBC every success in the future.”
