The brand’s former distributor, Keystone, filed a Notice of Intention to Appoint Administrators pre-Christmas, but Hofmeister Brewing Company said it had secured a new deal and has appointed Kingfisher Drinks as its new national logistics partner.
Full control
The company said the move means Hofmeister retains full control over its route to market as it seeks to expand across the UK on-trade. Currently, the company said it was outperforming the sector, with sales volumes up 30% year on year in Q4, with the brand proving popular in the 25-44 demographic.
The new partnership with Kingfisher Drinks ensures that Hofmeister’s 50L, 30L, and bottled formats are available across the UK immediately, guaranteeing supply security for the trade throughout 2026.
Hofmeister CEO Spencer Chambers said: “We have seen an incredible start to 2026. We are trading 30% up year-on-year, and our consumer engagement has exploded by over 1500%, driven by the launch of our new ‘Hoffice’ social campaign bringing George the Bear back to screens.
Impressive trajectory
“The market data is clear: beer drinkers are moving away from mass-produced ‘fake’ world lagers and demanding the real thing. As an independent, authentic Helles brewed in Bavaria, we are perfectly placed to lead that charge.
“We refused to let our momentum be stalled by the challenges of a third-party distributor. We are back in the driving seat as a fully independent business, and we have selected Kingfisher Drinks to provide the scale and operational excellence needed to ensure every pint arrives fresh and on time.”
Kingfisher Drinks COO Shaun Goode added: “We are delighted to support Hofmeister. It is one of the most exciting premium lagers in the market, and we are proud to provide the robust logistics infrastructure they need to maintain their impressive growth trajectory.”
