Lion has bought the craft brewery Byron Bay Brewing Co in a move that it says will solidify the brewery, venue and beers in the area and support increased investment in the Byron community.
With a strong track record of nurturing and growing craft beers and breweries of all sizes, including Little Creatures, James Squire, White Rabbit, Kosciuszko and Knappstein, Lion intends to further develop Byron Bay Brewing Co’s hospitality operations, which host over 2,000 visitors a week, while respecting the brewery’s rich heritage.
Lion Craft Marketing Director Gordon Treanor says the move would ensure the brewery and its hospitality operations would remain an integral part of the Byron community.
“When we were approached by Byron Bay Brewing Co, we saw an opportunity to invest in a great local brewery, hospitality operation and craft beer portfolio, with a view to building the business locally and, possibly, in time, sharing these great beers with more people across the country,” he said.
“We recognise that the craft beer segment benefits from giving entrepreneurial people the chance to be creative and experimental, and this is how we manage our current craft portfolio. We are looking forward to welcoming Byron Bay Brewing Co into the fold and working with the team to keep brewing award-winning beers.”
Byron Bay Brewing Co owner Barry Schadel says he was happy to have found a buyer who shared his vision for the company and would continue to invest in Byron.
“Lion has a strong track record of doing this with other craft beers and I know I am leaving Byron Bay Brewing Co in good hands,” he said.