Lion Little World Beverages, the craft beer arm of Japan’s Kirin Holdings has announced that it has appointed advisors to review it’s options for it’s UK business.
The company currently owns and operates Huddersfield based Magic Rock Brewing which they purchased in 2019 and London’s Fourpure Brewing Company which they had brought the previous year.
In a recent press release Managing Director of Lion Little World Beverages UK, Gordon Treanor said: “Both Magic Rock and Fourpure are well-established, award winning modern craft brands. Crafted in our state-of-the-art breweries, our beers resonate with consumers across the UK, while our businesses remain deeply connected to their local communities.”
However he goes on the explain how Lion Little World have grown their presence in the US marketplace with the acquisitions of New Belgium Brewery in 2019 and more recently Bell’s Brewery. These acquisitions has seen Lion Little World quickly become one of the largest beer producers in the world’s largest craft beer market and Treanor acknowledges the need to focus on that market: “Like any business, we need to make choices as to where we continue to direct our investment” he notes.
Lion Little World acquired Huddersfield based Magic Rock Brewing in 2019
Lion Little World also recently acquired cult Australian brewer Stone & Wood in a deal estimated to have been worth over $500 million AUD and described at the time by the Sydney Morning Herald as “one of the country’s largest-ever craft beer buy-outs”.
During their years of ownership Lion have continued to invest in upgrades and marketing for the two UK breweries, with Fourpure alone having seen several brand make-over’s during Lion’s stewardship. Treanor believes both business are well placed to benefit as post-pandemic trading conditions in the UK continue to improve.
Elsewhere in Asia the company recently shuttered their flagship Little Creatures brewpubs in Singapore and Hong Kong and have recently appointed a new CEO.
While no final decision has yet been made as to the future of Magic Rock and Fourpure it is expected they will both be sold off as Lion focuses on growing their brewery acquisitions in the US and their home market of Australia.
