ROKiT Drinks has signed a three-year deal for the exclusive distribution of the Castle Eden beer range, cask and bottles, across both the UK and the US. This deal sees ROKiT Drinks responsible for the on-trade, off-trade, and online sales.
The Castle Eden Brewery was founded in 1826 and is now located in Seaham, in County Durham. Its current beer range includes heritage brews of Castle Eden Blonde, Castle Eden Ale, Castle Eden Red and Castle Eden Black. This distribution deal comes a year after investment in the brewery’s fermentation tanks doubled production capacity.
Jonathan Kendrick, chairman of ROKiT Drinks, said: “We are delighted to be distributing Castle Eden beers internationally as we feel their strong heritage sits well alongside our ABK Beers, brewed in our historic 700-year-old brewery in Kaufbeuren, Bavaria.
“We have massively increased our sales force in the US and the UK as we know there is a tremendous thirst for proper heritage beers from breweries, such as Castle Eden, with a story to tell.”
Cliff Walker, managing director of Castle Eden Brewery, added: “We feel that this is a fantastic opportunity for both parties, and we look forward in anticipation to the growth that the ROKiT Team can deliver. We have every confidence that Graham, Lee, and the team will reintroduce the name Castle Eden into the market, restoring it to its former glory.”
This exclusive deal also involves the refresh of the Castle Eden brand. Graham Higgins, chief executive of ROKiT Drinks, said: “We have revitalised and refreshed the Castle Eden branding, and casks are already being delivered to some of our customers this week. This will build further as cask sales increase now that indoor on-trade beer sales can take place in the UK.”
