Asahi has announced a $35 million expansion of the Octopi Brewing production facility, with the goal to make Asahi Super Dry beer at the upgraded brewery. The goal is to expand distribution beyond Asian and Japanese restaurants and into off-premise chain stores, bars and restaurants.
Octopi is a contract beverage production and co-packing facility based in Waunakee, Wisconsin. Asahi Europe & International (AEI), the international arm of Asahi Group Holdings purchased Octopi in January 2024.
Octopi had transitioned over the years from brewing its own beer to providing contract brewing services to other brands. The company provides consulting, recipe design, merchandising consulting and other services for the brands they brew under contract. They contract a wide variety of products including seltzers, coffees, sodas and others.
It is a similar move made by Sapporo, which bought Stone Brewing and Anchor Brewing primarily as a production facility to expand US distribution. In May 2024, Sapporo-Stone Brewing announced the completion of phase one of a $60 million expansion project at its Escondido brewery. Sapporo closed Anchor in 2023.
More on the story here.