GLASGOW, Scotland, March 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ —

C&C Group plc has acquired a 50% equity stake in Wallaces of Ayr Limited (trading as Wallaces Express), Scotland’s largest independent wines and spirits wholesaler, in a move designed to offer enhanced service and increased value for the on-trade across Scotland.

Wallaces Express will continue to be run independently and will work alongside C&C Group to deliver an outstanding full portfolio offering to the Scottish on-trade and continue to support their customers at these challenging times.

Kenny Neison, Group Chief Financial Officer of C&C Group, said:

“Today’s announcement is consistent with our ambition of developing a multi-beverage platform in the Scottish drinks market. We have a great relationship with the team at Wallaces Express and we are proud to partner with them. Whilst Wallaces Express will be run independently from our beer business, we will seek opportunities to take advantage of cross-selling for customers, particularly in wines and spirits. This partnership between two great drinks businesses will provide our customers with a one stop shop for all their alcoholic and soft drinks needs.”

Brian Calder, Managing Director of Wallaces Express, said:

“This is a major development for Wallaces Express and represents a great opportunity for all our staff and customers. In terms of strategic aims and culture, the two businesses are well aligned and I am confident that both businesses will continue to move forward to the benefit of the Scottish licensed trade.”

Notes to Editors:

About C&C Group plc

C&C Group plc is a manufacturer, marketer and distributor of branded cider and beer. The Group manufactures Bulmers, the leading Irish cider brand, Magners, the premium international cider brand, the Gaymer Cider Company range of branded and private label ciders and the Tennent’s beer brand. C&C Group also owns Woodchuck and Hornsby’s, two of the leading craft cider brands in the United States. The Group also distributes a number of beer brands in the Scottish, Irish and Northern Irish markets, primarily for Anheuser-Busch InBev. http://www.candcgroupplc.com

About Wallaces Express

Wallaces Express is Scotland’s largest independent wines and spirits wholesaler supplying the licensed trade throughout much of central and south west Scotland, the Borders and Cumbria, as well as the Inverness and the Aberdeen areas. Employing 295 staff, the business was established in Ayr in 1875 as a retailer. Wallaces Express then evolved in the mid 1980s into a drinks wholesaler. Wallaces Express is a complete supplier to the licensed on-trade, including wines and spirits, soft drinks, packaged, draught beer, glassware and snacks. It has six distribution depots (Irvine, Coatbridge, Dumfries, Lanark, Kintore and Inverness). It’s stated aim is “to provide the service levels you would expect from a small local business at prices equal to or better than those of larger national suppliers.” http://www.wallaceexpress.com

SOURCE C&C Group plc