C&C deal with Pabst Brewing Company could lead to sale of US operations

Irish drinks group C&C has signed a new distribution deal which could, ultimately, lead to the sale of its US operations.

The agreement — via C&C’s US subsidiary, the Vermont Hard Cider Company — is with the Los Angeles-based Pabst Brewing Company (PBC), which ranks as the world’s largest American-owned brewer.

PBC will — as of the beginning of March — have the exclusive American rights to distribute, market and sell all of C&C’s US cider brands and its imported brands, such as Magners and Blackthorn.