Mark Anthony Group Acquires The Finnish Long Drink RTD Brand

The Mark Anthony Group of Companies, known for its portfolio of popular beverages including White Claw® Hard Seltzer, has acquired The Finnish Long Drink to accelerate the brand’s growth and expand its availability throughout North America. The acquisition focuses on leveraging The Finnish Long Drink’s unique heritage and consumer appeal to strengthen Mark Anthony’s position in the fast-growing ready-to-drink (RTD) alcoholic beverage segment.

While the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, the acquisition includes the brand and associated business assets. The Mark Anthony Group has already supported The Finnish Long Drink’s expansion in Canada as its exclusive distributor, helping establish it as one of the fastest-growing RTD brands in that market. This acquisition enables Mark Anthony to further scale the brand across the United States and Canada.

The Finnish Long Drink was founded by Finnish entrepreneurs Mikael Taipale, Ere Manner, Sakari Manninen, and American Evan Burns. The brand draws on a rich heritage dating back to the 1952 Helsinki Summer Olympics, when the Finnish government created the original ‘long drinks’ to welcome international visitors. Since its U.S. launch in 2018, The Finnish Long Drink has gained rapid momentum and a passionate consumer following, noted for its distinctive taste and iconic backstory.

Phil Rosse, CEO of The Mark Anthony Group of Companies, emphasized the strategic fit: “Our focus has always been on building and scaling brands that stand out in their category and resonate with consumers. Long Drink has already established strong momentum and a clear point of difference in the RTD space, and we see a meaningful opportunity to build on that success by expanding its reach and bringing it to more consumers.”

Co-founder and CEO Evan Burns highlighted the growth potential: “Joining The Mark Anthony Group of Companies to leverage their track record of scaling iconic RTD brands gives us a huge opportunity to accelerate growth and introduce Long Drink to a much broader audience.” Actor and co-owner Miles Teller also expressed enthusiasm, noting the brand’s distinctiveness and the partnership’s potential to expand its reach without compromising its identity.

The Mark Anthony Group, founded in 1972, has evolved from a single-person import wine business into an international drinks company with a portfolio that includes luxury wineries, premium spirits, and leading RTD brands such as White Claw Hard Seltzer and Mike’s Hard Lemonade. This acquisition adds a unique Finnish long drink flavor profile to its offerings, diversifying beyond hard seltzers and enhancing its premium RTD portfolio.

Industry trends show strong growth in the RTD alcoholic beverage category, driven by consumer demand for convenient, flavorful, and premium options. The acquisition positions Mark Anthony to capitalize on these trends by cross-selling The Finnish Long Drink through its established distribution channels, expanding product availability in retail and on-premise locations, and leveraging marketing capabilities to boost brand awareness.

Operational synergies include consolidating supply chain and procurement functions, sharing manufacturing and logistics infrastructure, and integrating sales teams to optimize market coverage. However, challenges remain in maintaining The Finnish Long Drink’s brand authenticity while scaling, aligning corporate cultures, managing supply chain complexities, and ensuring consistent product quality at higher volumes.

Looking ahead, Mark Anthony plans to integrate The Finnish Long Drink into its portfolio seamlessly, aiming to accelerate growth and capture incremental market share in the competitive RTD segment. The acquisition also intensifies competitive pressure on other RTD producers, potentially prompting increased marketing efforts and new product launches within the category.

Overall, this strategic move enhances Mark Anthony’s footprint in North America’s RTD market, leveraging a heritage-rich brand to meet evolving consumer preferences and drive long-term value creation.