Lion is diversifying and adding new brands to its portfolio in New Zealand. Soon after acquiring local craft beer labels Panhead and Emerson’s, Lion is now spending millions on a new craft beer brewery in Hobsonville Point. Craft beer is the fastest growing segment of the market in New Zealand.
Little Creatures is a popular craft beer that is well established in Australia and will now also be produced at Lion’s new brewery in Auckland’s northwest. The Little Creatures venue will open on Waitangi Day and employ about 100 staff.
The craft beer offer will be complemented with several eateries within the brewery, including Kittyhawk (pictured). Customers will also be able to buy beer to take home, which is going to prove popular in West Auckland, where the supermarkets are ‘dry’ and Waitakere and Portage Trusts directly control local bottle stores.
Good Buzz Kombucha will also be on sale. Lion holds a 25% stake in this brand – another interesting recent investment.
Lion also announced the purchase of Wellington coffee company Havana recently. Little Creatures Brewery will open at 7am and also sell coffee to locals on their way to the new commuter ferry at Hobsonville Point.
Lion announced the purchase of Havana Coffee recently.
