Comans to join with Western Beverages
It’s understood that one of the reasons for amalgamating the two businesses involves centralising Heineken’s draught keg distribution into a single unit.
At present Geoff & Tom Coman focus their wine and beer distribution operation (including distribution of Heineken kegs) along the East Coast of the country where Western Beverages, Heineken’s wholesale division since 1996, operates along the South and Western Seaboards distributing bottled and kegged product from five strategically located depots as well as supplying and delivering other beers, ciders, soft drinks, spirits and wines to on- and off-trade outlets throughout Donegal and the provinces of Connacht and Munster.
The new and as yet un-named company will be headed up by Geoff Coman as Chief Executive.
However according to a report in The Irish Times on the merger, shares were recently issued in a newly-established company called Comans Beverages to Geoff and Tom Coman in exchange for “the assets and undertakings of Comans Wholesale”.
It’s understood that no cash changed hands but the consideration for Comans Wholesale was put at €6.9 million in the documents, according to The Irish Times report, with the majority to be owned by the Coman family whose Dublin-based distribution depot is larger than that of Western Beverages.
Together, the two companies employ around 220 at present but are not making any further comment at this time. The proposal is subject to regulatory approval.
