Kegstar Set to Launch its Operations in Europe
Global supply-chain logistics company Brambles has moved from 30% to 100% ownership of Kegstar Holdings, after acquiring the shareholdings associated with founder and managing director Adam Trippe-Smith and co-shareholder Shane Bradley. Kegstar is an asset pooling business specialising in stainless steel kegs used to transport beverages, principally beer and cider. Kegstar will now be accelerating its plans to expand into new territories beyond Australia and New Zealand.
Under Brambles’ ownership, Kegstar will continue to operate as a stand-alone business, with Adam Trippe-Smith retaining his position as managing director and the entire Kegstar team also remaining in place to continue the execution of the Company’s business plan.
The first stage of Kegstar’s global expansion will be the establishment of its European operations. Kegstar will launch a specialist keg pooling business in the UK in February 2016 and then expand operations into mainland Europe. Building on success in Australia and New Zealand, the European business will also feature Kegstar’s innovative keg-tracking platform and the unique pay-per-fill offering, whereby Kegstar collects the empty kegs from the licensed venue. The addition of Kegstar operations in Europe also opens up the opportunity for customers in Australia and New Zealand to export their beer to the UK in Kegstar kegs and UK brewers to export their beer to Australia and New Zealand in Kegstar kegs.
Adam Trippe-Smith (pictured) comments: “I am excited and proud that Brambles has recognised the unique business that my team has created over an extraordinarily short period of time. We now look forward to tapping into the global asset pooling knowledge and network of the entire Brambles group to take Kegstar to the next level. It’s now game on!”
Kegstar first launched in December 2012 with 880 kegs, one person and one customer. Brambles acquired a 30% stake in March 2014, and since then Kegstar has grown its keg pool from 15,000 to now in excess of 50,000 stainless steel kegs across three countries (Australia, New Zealand and the UK). The company now employs thirteen people and has annualised sales revenue of approximately A$3 million.
Kegstar works with 140 brewers, 75 distribution partners and 1,500 venues across Australia and New Zealand. As part of its keg tracking solution, Kegstar kegs have been scanned over 500,000 times.
