Australian Vintage Ltd. announced today that it has signed a conditional agreement to acquire international ownership of the MadFish Wines brand from Burch Family Wines for an undisclosed sum.
Under the deal, Australian Vintage will also become the exclusive distributor of the Burch family’s Howard Park Wines in the U.K., Ireland, Europe and Canada, while Burch Family Wines retains MadFish’s brand ownership and all domestic distribution rights in Australia.
Tom Dusseldorp, Australian Vintage’s newly appointed chief executive officer, said, “MadFish is already one of the fastest-growing Australian wine brands in the U.K., and Howard Park is a premium label from the distinguished Margaret River region. Adding these brands to our portfolio will boost both volume and value without increasing overhead. We remain focused on enhancing shareholder value by pursuing capital-light growth through strategic partnerships and innovation.”
Jeff Burch, chief executive officer of Burch Family Wines, added, “MadFish began as a personal tribute to my coastal home—a love affair with place and wine—and has grown beyond our wildest expectations. Partnering with Australian Vintage allows MadFish to scale internationally while preserving its Western Australian roots and our commitment to quality. We’re excited to leverage Australian Vintage’s world-class distribution, bottling facilities and global network to accelerate both MadFish and Howard Park around the world.”
The two companies will also enter a long-term sourcing and processing partnership to ensure consistency of quality as MadFish expands overseas. Both parties share a vision of producing and promoting premium Western Australian wines for consumers worldwide.
Dusseldorp added, “This partnership demonstrates how innovative collaboration can unlock mutual value, even in challenging market conditions. By combining our strengths, we’re poised to deliver greater returns for shareholders and lasting benefits for our brands.”
Australian Vintage, an ASX-listed, consumer-led wine company, offers a diverse portfolio of globally recognized brands in more than 40 countries. Burch Family Wines, a fourth-generation, family-owned business, has been producing quality Western Australian wines for nearly 40 years across the Perth, Margaret River, Pemberton and Great Southern regions under labels including Howard Park, MadFish, Marchand & Burch and Mon Tout.
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