Formed in 1923 as New Zealand Breweries, the country’s leading beer, wine and spirits company, Lion New Zealand has just celebrated a significant milestone in New Zealand’s corporate and brewing history.
This household name has achieved unprecedented success not only in the country but also on a global scale.
“Lion is one of the original Kiwi success stories, and the company as we know it today began with ten of the nation’s largest breweries coming together to form New Zealand Breweries in 1923,” said Lion New Zealand’s managing director Craig Baldie.
“Through the amalgamation, shares were made available to the public, and Kiwis had the opportunity to invest in the success of the brewing industry. Around the time, a movement wanted to make beer illegal, and the investment opportunity proved that most Kiwis did not support prohibition.”
Orchestrated by Sir Alfred Bankhart of Campbell & Ehrenfried, the proposal brought together breweries in Christchurch, Dunedin, Port Chalmers, Wellington, Gisborne, and Auckland, including the original ‘Lion’ and Captain Cook breweries on Khyber Pass Road and Speight’s, the only brewery of the original ten still operating.
New Zealand Breweries officially became Lion Breweries in 1977. Today, Lion operates across New Zealand and the USA and has its headquarters in Australia. It also has a premium fine wine business in North America with shareholdings in several craft beverage companies.
The story of Lion is one of visionary leadership and continuous evolution. Former CEO Sir Douglas Myers put Lion on the international map in the ‘80s with the bold acquisition of Bond Brewing in Australia, ten times the size of Lion in New Zealand.
Lion has also expanded its business in New Zealand, including breweries in Auckland, Dunedin, and Upper Hutt, as well as a winery, two coffee roasteries, and several hospitality venues.
The company also produces many of New Zealand’s most loved beer, wine, and spirits brands, including Speight’s, the country’s number-one-selling beer brand.
“What stands out for me is Lion’s enduring focus on great brands and people. One hundred years on, the bold and entrepreneurial mindset we were founded on endures in our culture and the way we do business today.”
To commemorate its century, Lion has brewed a limited-edition pale ale. It also decided to delay the celebrations to this year as it completed a supply chain transformation project in the latter half of 2023.
