CHAMPION Breweries Plc has partnered with Bature Brewery to manufacture and distribute the craft brewer’s products across Nigeria, with an option to acquire three of its beer brands if sales reach an agreed threshold.
The agreement with Thistlerock Enterprises Limited, owner of Bature Brewery, will enable Champion Breweries to produce, package and distribute Lagos Lager, Black Gold Stout and Harmattan Haze from its brewery in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The partnership is expected to expand Bature’s market reach by leveraging Champion Breweries’ manufacturing capacity and national distribution network.
Under the arrangement, Bature will retain ownership of the brands and control over product development, brand strategy and consumer engagement, while continuing to serve its hospitality customers in Lagos directly.
Champion Breweries will also have the option to acquire the three brands, including their trademarks, recipes and goodwill, once annual sales reach 40,000 hectolitres.
The acquisition would be based on a pre-agreed, performance-linked valuation and would require the necessary corporate and regulatory approvals.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Champion Breweries, Malolan Sampath, said the partnership aligned with the company’s ambition to build a diversified beverage business through brand ownership, manufacturing capabilities and strategic partnerships.
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He said the company saw opportunities to use its operational expertise and distribution network to expand the reach of distinctive Nigerian beverage brands.
“Bature is a strong example of that opportunity. It has built a reputation for quality, creativity and innovation, and we believe that combining its brand strengths with Champion’s operational capabilities will help bring its award-winning beers to consumers across Nigeria,” Sampath said.
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Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Bature Brewery, Kevin Conroy, said the agreement would enable the brewery to reach more consumers while preserving the identity and creativity behind its products.
He said the brewery had built a community around its craft beers since its establishment and viewed the partnership as an opportunity to extend its presence beyond Lagos.
The products will be introduced nationwide in phases, beginning with Lagos Lager, which is scheduled for launch at the Calabar Festival in December 2026.
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Harmattan Haze is expected to follow in the first quarter of 2027, while Black Gold Stout is scheduled for release later in the year.
Founded in 2017, Bature Brewery is one of Nigeria’s pioneering independent craft breweries. Its Black Gold Stout won gold at the 2021 African Beer Cup, while Lagos Lager received silver at the 2022 World Beer Awards.
Champion Breweries, listed on the Nigerian Exchange, operates a brewery in Uyo and produces Champion Lager and Champion Malt. The company is part of the EverCorp Industries Limited portfolio.
