SAN FRANCISCO– Craft beer pioneer Anchor Brewing Co. – maker of the famous Anchor Steam and Christmas Ale beers – has been purchased by Chobani yogurt founder and billionaire Hamdi Ulukaya.
The purchase price was not disclosed. Ulukaya said in a statement issued Friday that Anchor embodies much of what makes San Francisco great and that he is excited to be part of the company's rebirth.
“I fell in love with this city, its history, courage and charm. I believe that brands born in places like this are incredibly special and should be cherished, respected and loved,” he said.
Beer lovers mourned when the brewery company, founded in San Francisco in 1896, announced its closure last year amid declining sales and increased competition from canned cocktails, craft drinks, spirits and wines.
Anchor was previously rescued from near financial insolvency in the 1960s when it was acquired by Fritz Maytag, who sparked a revival of small-scale and local brewing. Japanese brewer Sapporo then bought Anchor Brewing in 2017.
Last year, attempts by heartbroken brewery employees to buy the company failed.
Shepherd Futures, the family office of Chobani CEO and founder Ulukaya, now owns Anchor Brewing's assets.
Ulukaya grew up in a dairy farming family in eastern Turkey. He founded Chobani in 2005 after moving to the U.S. in search of the healthy Greek yogurt of his childhood, according to the Chobani website.
The company has expanded beyond yogurt into milk, creamers and other beverages. It is based in New York.
