Vox Acquires Cocktail-Focused Media Brand ‘Punch’, Reportedly Eyes Public Offering

Vox Media has acquired digital drinks-focused publication Punch, which it will continue to operate independently as a sister site to resident food and restaurant platform Eater.

Vox says it will harness its production, development, revenue, marketing, and events expertise to grow the Punch portfolio. The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Covering all things cocktail culture, Punch was launched in 2013 by editor-in-chief Talia Baiocchi and Crown/Random House EVP and publisher Aaron Wehner as a digital vertical within Penguin Random House that has published 10 books to date. The brand subsequently grew to encompass social channels, newsletters, and events.

Baiocchi (pictured above, right) will continue to serve as Punch’s top editor, reporting to Eater editor-in-chief and Vox Media SVP Amanda Kludt (above left).

The Wall Street Journal reports that the acquisition arrives as Vox is considering several financing options to further supercharge its growth — be it by going public via a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), a traditional IPO, or by raising more equity funding. The digital media company has raised $307 million to date.

The acquisition of Punch follows a long-term, strategic partnership forged earlier this month between Eater and the hit food podcast Gastropod, which is hosted by Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley. Gastropod now features Eater co-branding, joining other food-focused podcasts within the Vox podcast network like Eater’s Digest and Land Of The Giant’s: Delivery Wars.