Duvel Moortgat buys Ommegang

Modern Brewery Age, Feb 10, 2003

Don Feinberg and Wendy Littlefield, co-founders of Brewery Ommegang and owners of beer importer Vanberg & DeWulf, have announced the complete transfer of Brewery Ommegang stock to the Belgian brewer Duvel Moortgat, maker of Duvel. Feinberg and Littlefield have also relinquished distribution rights to handle Duvel on the eastern seaboard. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Brewery Ommegang, a micro located in Cooperstown, NY, was founded by Feinberg and Littlefield in 1997. It produces a line of bottle-conditioned Belgian-style beers, including Ommegang, Hennepin and Rare Vos.

"This is the perfect outcome of the more than twenty year relationship between our families." said Don Feinberg, who began importing Duvel to the United States in 1982. "We are very proud of the role we have played in introducing Americans to the extra-ordinary world of Belgian beers, beginning with Duvel, the first Belgian beer that I fell in love with as a graduate student in Brussels. We are excited that this commitment of Duvel Moortgat's resources will enable both Duvel and Ommegang to reach their potential in the U.S."

"We view the United States as a priority market," said Michel Moortgat, director general of Duvel Moortgat. "Duvel is already one of the top two specialty imports from Belgium in this country. We have been involved with Ommegang since its inception, and we possess the resources and the willingness to invest and develop the marketplace for both Duvel and Ommegang. We are excited to be building on the strong foundation that was created by Don and Wendy's work."

Laurent Demuynck, Ommegang's new President and head of Duvel Moortgat USA, added, "There is no question that the market for Belgian beers in general, and top-fermented specialty ales made in Belgium and the United States is ripe for development. As the market leader in this sector in Belgium, and as investors in Ommegang from the start we feel uniquely well suited to the task."

Duvel Moortgat is the fifth largest brewery in Belgium. The company's importers into the U.S. will now be Duvel Moortgat USA for the eastem seaboard, and Belukus Marketing, based in Austin, TX, for the rest of the country.

Don and Wendy will consult for Ommegang during the transition, and will continue to operate Vanberg & DeWulf Import Co.