Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA), an Australia-based company that bottles and distributes The Coca-Cola Company soft drinks and other beverages, has acquired Fiji Brewery and distillery from Foster’s Group.

The acquisition was made through the purchase of 89.6% stake in Foster’s Group Pacific Limited (FGPL) for approximately A$58m ($59.90m).

CCA’s acquisition includes brewery facilities in Suva and Lautoka, Fiji and Samoa, and a distillery located in Lautoka, which produces Fiji Bitter and Bounty Rum.

The company plans to invest around A$15m ($15.48m) to upgrade and expand the facilities to produce premium export quality beer and spirits.

Acquisition of the Fiji brewery and distillery allows CCA to meet its alcohol strategy in the Pacific, where the company has multi-year distribution agreements with international beer brands like Grupo Modelo, Carlsberg and Molson Coors in the Pacific Islands and New Zealand.

CCA group managing director Terry Davis said their alcohol strategy, which includes ten year agreement with Beam, is coming together well and they are also looking forward to develop the spirit and alcoholic ready-to-drink brands in Fiji.

"We are not new to Fiji – we have operated a successful non-alcoholic beverages business in Fiji since 1993, and fully understand the great potential of ‘Brand Fiji’," Davis added.

"Fiji Bitter beer and Bounty Rum will complement our non-alcoholic portfolio, not just in Fiji, but in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, and further afield."

CCA further intends to purchase the remaining 10.4% stake in FGPL, which will be subject to approval by the Reserve Bank of Fiji.