Consortium takes majority share in SHOTT Beverages

New Zealand consortium takes majority share in fast growing SHOTT Beverages

SHOTT Beverages, New Zealand’s No. 1 brand in cafe syrups and fruit syrups, has attracted a new major shareholder to lead the next stage of its growth.

Beverage Holdings Ltd (BHL), a consortium of private investors, has acquired a majority shareholding in SHOTT from founders Tami Louisson, Simon Louisson and Richard Plimmer, for an undisclosed sum. BHL will actively participate in a major expansion of SHOTT’s Lower Hutt based business into targeted export markets using the strengths of New Zealand’s unique food ingredients and flavourings including SHOTT’s premium brand Lemon Ginger and Honey.

Andrew Meehan, Chairman of BHL said the opportunity to invest with the existing SHOTT Shareholders and Management team in an iconic New Zealand beverage company was enormously exciting and would provide the opportunity to showcase to the world the best New Zealand ingredients in an added value, branded form.

“We have tremendous respect for the way Richard, Tami and Simon have developed the product and brand in a short space of time; and share their passion and belief that SHOTT has all the attributes to become a global brand,” Andrew Meehan said, who will chair SHOTT’s board.

Tami Louisson, CEO of SHOTT, said she is delighted that as a result of the shareholding association, the company is able to accelerate plans to develop export markets which have shown strong interest in product trials over recent months. She has just returned from a trip to Korea which will figure strongly in export plans.

“We received many approaches from many parties to invest with us; however the point of difference with Beverage Holdings Ltd is their long-term perspective and their demonstrated expertise in assisting companies such as ours to grow.”

“Andrew Meehan and Brent Wootton, formerly Chairman and Executive Director respectively of Masterpet Corporation for nine years prior to its recent sale, have a proven track record in managing fast growing businesses and will both join the Board of SHOTT. “

The SHOTT shareholders were advised during the sale process by Wellington merchant bank Caniwi Capital Ltd.

About SHOTT
SHOTT Beverages is a leading New Zealand beverages brand which manufactures and sells premium hot and cold beverage concentrates to both the cafe and retail markets. Noted for its hero Lemon Ginger & Honey, SHOTT was founded in 2007 by Tami Louisson and Richard Plimmer who have been on a mission to capture the incredible flavours nature creates.
In five years, SHOTT has become the leading supplier of fruit and coffee syrups to the New Zealand food service industry, supplying over half the country’s approximately 5,000 cafes.

SHOTT has also rapidly expanded into retail and today sells in 90% of New Zealand supermarkets, as well as pharmacies, independent retailers and delicatessens. All major wholesalers stock SHOTT products, in many cases as the only brand in the syrup category. Exports currently account for 10% of sales, with the company making strong inroads in Australia and Korea.

SHOTT’s unique branding, proprietary formulations and high quality natural ingredients give it a range of products with a distinct point of difference. SHOTT has enjoyed substantial growth since launching and featured in Deloitte’s Fast 50 in 2010 and 2011.

As well as its prized Lemon Ginger & Honey, SHOTT makes a range of coffee syrups, chai latte, smoothie bases and cocktail mixers.
Andrew Meehan has an investment banking background and extensive experience in export markets, particularly Asia. Andrew has more recently been chairman of Masterpet Corporation for nine years, where sales and profitability increased substantially ahead of its sale to listed company Ebos last year.
Tami Louisson has managed SHOTT since its inception in 2007 and before that ran Wellington juice company Nectar Juices. Tami was one of 16 finalists for this year’s Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year title. Tami immigrated to New Zealand 30 years ago from Israel, where she trained as a designer, a skill that has been integral to successfully developing SHOTT’s powerful and distinct brand.

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