Be Sociable
Live Well
Our Brands
At Lion, we’re lucky to own and manage many of the very best brands across Australia, New Zealand and the world, some of which are more than 100 years old.
Our Purpose
At Lion, our core purpose is to bring people together to be sociable and live well.
Our Sustainability Approach
At Lion, we believe it is our responsibility to preserve our lands and natural resources for current and future generations, and we invest heavily in sustainability right along our supply chain.
Our People
At Lion, our people are critical to the success of our business. We’re committed to helping them be the best they can be to really make a difference, and have a great time doing it.
The latest from Lion
Brands steeped in history. Brands with bold new stories to share.
Australian Beer
We offer an outstanding portfolio of Australian beers, including iconic trademarks and newer, innovative takes on the category. Lion also markets several leading international brands here.
Find out moreNew Zealand Beer
Our beers include New Zealand’s best loved local brands as well a range of international favourites.
Find out moreInternational Beverages
Our global collective of brewers and winemakers are responsible for some of the most loved beer and wine brands across our regions.
Find out moreSustainability is a key part of who we are
Our Sustainability Approach
At Lion, we define our core purpose – our central objective – not in terms of shareholder returns, but as the value we deliver for society.
Find out moreOur Policies & Reporting
We take transparency and accountability seriously which is why we report publicly on different parts of our business.
Find out moreGovernance & Transparency
Governance is essential to the current and long-term sustainability of Lion; there is a close link between strong governance and growth in business performance.
Find out morePEOPLE & CAREERS
Committed to helping people be the best they can be
We foster an agile, high growth culture to promote long term sustainability, with a special focus on diversity and inclusion. Search our new opportunities.
Nothing excites us more than great brands
Lion Australia
We are proud to manage Australia’s leading beer portfolio, including a broad range of brands, several popular ciders & sparkling alcoholic seltzers.
Find out moreLion New Zealand
Lion is New Zealand’s largest alcohol beverage company. We produce, market, sell and distribute many of the region’s favourite drinks.
Find out moreLion Little World Beverages
Our global collective of brewers and winemakers are responsible for some of the most loved beer and wine brands across our regions.
Find out more1795
• James Squire, convicted highway robber and publican, produces the first commercial ale and becomes Australia's first brewer. His legacy now lives on through Lion's Malt Shovel Brewery, which adopts the James Squire name for its unique range of handcrafted beers.
1840
• LD Nathan established as a trading company in Russell, New Zealand and moved to Auckland soon after.
1857
• Early West Australian settler Frederick Sherwood establishes the original Swan Brewery, in what is now the suburb of Sherwood Court in Perth. Swan Draught is born.
1859
• The West End Brewery is established by William Clark in Hindley Street, Adelaide. West End Draught is born.
1861
• Pioneer brewer Richard Seccombe founds the Great Northern Brewery at Khyber Pass, Auckland. He uses the Lion from his family crest as its logo.
1872
• John Thomas Toohey and his younger brother, James Matthew, join forces and buy the Darling Brewery in Sydney. The brothers begin trading as JT & J Toohey and give Australia its first taste of Tooheys Old.
1875
• The Standard Brewery opens near Sydney's Central Station and Tooheys prospers.
1876
• Opening of Speight's Brewery in Dunedin.
1877
• The Fitzgerald brothers form a partnership with Kate Quinlan, George Gray and Robert Prendergast with the intent to build a brewery in Brisbane. They purchase the failing Milton Distillery and much of the surrounding land.
1878
• The first brew is produced in the Castlemaine Milton Brewery. • The Ehrenfried brothers buy the Albert Brewery in Auckland.
1888
• The South Australian Brewing Company is formed through a merger of the West End Brewery, the Kent Town Brewery and wine and spirits merchant Rounsevell & Simms.
1898
• The Albert Brewery and Hobson Bridge Brewery amalgamate to create Campbell & Ehrenfried.
1902
• With the family-owned Tooheys business being transferred to a limited company, the Stag is chosen as the Tooheys trademark. The symbol is derived from John Toohey's favourite hotel, the Bald Faced Stag Hotel in Leichhardt, Sydney.
1908
• Previously known as Stanley Co-operative Brewery and the Albion Brewery, the Emu Brewery is established in Perth.
1914
• The Great Northern Brewery becomes officially known as the Lion Brewery when the company merges with Campbell & Ehrenfried.
1923
• Lion Brewery is one of the ten major brewing companies that amalgamate to form New Zealand Breweries Ltd. • Emu Bitter is born.
1924
• The first caricature of Mr. Fourex appears in an advertisement. • XXXX BITTER is born.
1928
• The Castlemaine Brewery buys out major rival Perkins & Co, which owned the City Brewery, the Toowoomba Brewery, the Toowoomba Maltings and a number of hotels. The new company is known as Castlemaine Perkins. • Swan acquires major competitor, the Emu Brewery.
1931
• Tooheys NEW is born.
1958
• Steinecker (renamed Steinlager in 1962) is born.
1960
• Speight's is taken off the market, but reintroduced after public outcry.
1961
• LD Nathan acquires Waikato Breweries from CL Innes.
1965
• Douglas Myers becomes CEO of Campbell & Ehrenfried.
1971
• New Zealand Wines & Spirits is formed through a 50/50 joint venture by Campbell & Ehrenfried and New Zealand Breweries.
1977
• The northern division of New Zealand Breweries takes on the name Lion Breweries.
1978
• The Standard Brewery closes and all Tooheys operations relocate to Auburn.
1980
• Tooheys and Castlemaine Perkins merge to form Castlemaine Tooheys.
1981
• McCashins Brewery is established by Terry McCashin in Nelson, New Zealand. • Mac's Real Ale is born. • Campbell & Ehrenfried sells shares in New Zealand Wines and Spirits and purchase a 20 per cent share in Lion Breweries.
1982
• The Swan Brewery becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Alan Bond's Bond Corporation.
1985
• Castlemaine Tooheys is acquired by Bond Corporation.
1987
• Building starts on the Hahn Brewery, in a converted furniture factory in Camperdown, Sydney. Hahn Premium is born.
1988
• Lion Nathan is formed when New Zealand's largest retailer, LD Nathan & Co, merges with brewer, wine and spirit manufacturer and hotel operator, Lion Breweries.
1990
• Lion Nathan buys a 50 per cent share in Natbrew Holdings, which owned Alan Bond's brewing assets in Australia – including Castlemaine Tooheys and Swan Brewing.
1991
• XXXX Gold is born and at only 3.5% ABV goes on to become an Australian favourite beer
1992/93
• Lion Nathan acquires the remaining 50 per cent of Natbrew Holdings. • Tooheys, Castlemaine Perkins and the Swan Brewing Company begin operating as independent breweries under the Lion Nathan umbrella. A year later, Lion Nathan acquires New South Wales boutique brewer, Hahn Brewing, and the South Australian Brewing Company.
1994
• Brent Marris establishes the Wither Hills wine label.
1995
• Lion Nathan enters the Chinese beer market through the purchase of a controlling interest in the Taihushui brewery in Wuxi.
1997
• The remainder of New Zealand Breweries takes on the name Lion Breweries. • After 15 years as Managing Director then Chief Executive Officer, Douglas Myers is appointed Chairman of the Lion Nathan Board.
1998
• Douglas Myers, acting as Chairman of the Lion Nathan Board, sells most of his 16 per cent share in Lion Nathan to Kirin Brewery Company of Japan. Kirin goes on to acquire a 45 per cent interest in the company, creating the fourth largest brewing alliance in the world.
1999
• The Hahn Brewery is renamed the Malt Shovel Brewery in honour of Australia's first commercial brewer.
2000
• Lion Nathan shifts its domicile and primary stock exchange listing to Australia.
2001/2002
• Lion Nathan purchases a controlling interest in premium Australian wine companies Petaluma and Banksia, with brands including Petaluma, Stonier, Croser, Mitchelton, Knappstein, Tatachilla, St Hallett and Oregon-based Argyle Wines. A year later, it acquires New Zealand wine company Wither Hills.
2003
• Bacardi-Martini and Lion Nathan establish a joint venture – Bacardi Lion – to market and distribute a range of spirit brands in Australia.
2004
• Heineken and Lion Nathan establish a joint venture – Heineken Lion – to brew, market and distribute Heineken in Australia. • National Foods is acquired by San Miguel Corporation, following an unsuccessful takeover bid by Fonterra Co-operative Group from New Zealand. • Following a competitive sale process, Lion Nathan sells the Chinese beer business to China Resources Breweries.
2007
• San Miguel Corporation announces the sale of 100 per cent of National Foods to Kirin Holdings Company Limited. • Lion Nathan acquires Inner Circle Rum brand and distillery. • Heineken Lion JV dissolved – Lion continues to distribute Heineken in Australia today
2008
• Lion Nathan acquires iconic Tasmanian brewer J. Boag & Son. • Lion Nathan acquires US wine import company, Cumulus Wines, creating Lion Nathan Wine – incorporating the company's owned wine brands and distribution company Fine Wine Partners.
2009
• Kirin Holdings Company Limited assumes 100 per cent ownership of Lion Nathan. Lion Nathan is merged with National Foods (owned by Kirin since 2007), to form Lion Nathan National Foods. • Global brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev, appoints Lion Nathan distribution rights to the Budweiser group of brands in Australia and New Zealand, and distribution of Staropramen in New Zealand. • Lion Nathan's first cider brands are launched - Tooheys Extra Dry 5 Seeds in Australia and Mac's Isaac's Cider in New Zealand.
2011
• We become Lion. Operating as one company with three businesses: 1. Lion Beer Spirits and Wine Australia 2. Lion Beer Spirits and Wine NZ 3. Lion Dairy and Drinks • Lion acquires Little World Beverages in Australia, and Emersons in New Zealand
2014
• Lion acquires Morton Estate in NZ from The Wine Portfolio. The purchase includes Morton Estate’s Stone Creek vineyard, adjacent to Lion’s Wither Hills property in Marlborough. • Little Creatures Geelong opens, more than doubling the brand’s brewing capacity in Australia.
2015
• Lion Global Markets is established with a drive to take a little of Lion’s best Australian and New Zealand craft beers and ciders to the rest of the world, and accelerate growth of the wine business in North America. • Lion sells its everyday cheese business to Warrnambool Cheese and Butter. • White Rabbit opens new brewery and barrel hall in Geelong.
2016
• The first Little Creatures overseas venue opens in Hong Kong, looking to take advantage of growing interest in quality Australian produce. • Lion acquires Panhead in NZ and Byron Bay Brewery in Australia. • New Emerson’s Brewery opens in Dunedin, NZ after more than three years’ planning and a twelve month build. • Lion sells its Fine Wine Partners business to Accolade Wines, to allow priority investment in its core categories of beer and cider.
2017
• Lion invests in Goodbuzz Beverage Co NZ, Schibello Coffee, Made by Cow, Ordermentum and BarCats. The investments are part of Lion’s growing partnerships with entrepreneurs to help their businesses flourish. • Malt Shovel, Lion’s dedicated craft beer business, is established to nurture a collection of new brands and breweries and make doing business easier for the licensed trade in Australia.
2018
• Lion acquires Harrington’s in NZ and Fourpure in the UK. • Little Creatures Singapore opens. • The Fermentist opens in Christchurch with a significant focus on the environment and local community.
2019
• Little Creatures London and San Francisco open. Tapping into the growing craft beer market, this marks the sixth Little Creatures overseas venue and the first Little Creatures microbreweries in the UK and USA. • Lion acquires leading UK craft brewer Magic Rock Brewing, and expands its USA wine business with Markham Vineyards and TEXTBOOK Wines. • In NZ, Little Creatures Hobsonville opens. Lion NZ also grows its Drinks Collective portfolio with Teza Iced Teas. • Lion takes stakes in Vanguard Luxury Brands and Four Pillars Gin, furthering its partnerships in craft and premium spirits. • Launch of Heineken 0.0 alcohol free beer. • Lion completes the sale of its specialty cheese business to Saputo Dairy Australia, including the King Island Dairy, Tasmanian Heritage and South Cape brands. • Lion acquires leading U.S. craft brewer New Belgium Brewing.
2020
• Lion Australia become the first major carbon neutral certified brewer in Australia.
2021
Sale of Dairy & Drinks to Bega Cheese Limited.
GOVERNANCE & TRANSPARENCY
UK Modern Slavery Statement
This statement has been published in accordance with the modern slavery act, 2015 (UK) and is published on behalf of Lion’s Australian and New Zealand adult beverage businesses.
Dairy & Drinks Farmgate Agreements
Standard form milk supply agreements for Dairy & Drinks as published on 1 June 2020. Please note that Lion’s former Dairy & Drinks business has since been sold to Bega Cheese Limited.