Definition: A subsidiary is a producer that has its own unique brand identity but is at least 50% owned by a different producer.
Approved Subsidiaries: The following qualify for separate producer pages on Untappd:
- A producer launches a new brand with a distinct identity (i.e. unique website, social media accounts, or marketing presence), and which displays a materially different labeling, packaging, branding, or visual identity from the core brand
- A previously independent producer is acquired by another producer
- A producer owned (at least 50%) by a larger company that also holds majority shares in other producers (portfolio brands)
Prohibited Separations: The following will be merged into the parent producer:
- Contract-produced drinks that retain the core branding of the parent
- Discontinued or legacy product lines
- Style-specific or product-category separations that retain the core branding
- Any producer page created to manipulate, segment, or off-load ratings
Mandatory Disclosure Requirements:
- Subsidiary relationships MUST be displayed on all applicable producer pages using the "Subsidiary of [Parent]" designation
- This information cannot be removed at the request of producers or brands
- Ownership information is consumer-facing data that prioritizes platform accuracy over brand preferences
- Moderators should add notes to pages where brands have requested removal of subsidiary information to prevent repeated changes
Enforcement:
- Untappd has final authority on subsidiary designations
- Accuracy and data integrity supersede brand or producer requests
- Producer pages with legitimate check-ins will not be deleted; beverages may be moved to appropriate parent pages
- Attempted manipulation through subsidiary creation or ownership disclosure removal may result in additional action
Verification: When ownership is disputed or unclear, moderators should research using publicly available sources (company websites, press releases, business filings, industry reporting).