Australian brewer Lion has announced the sale of its UK-based operations, including the Magic Rock and Fourpure beer brands, to Odyssey Inns Ltd.
Lion, which is ultimately owned by Kirin of Japan, put the Little World Beverages business up for sale earlier this year to focus its investment on the craft beer markets in the US and Australia, having encountered “difficult trading conditions” in the UK.
The company stated that Odyssey represented the right team of UK beer and hospitality industry experts to lead the Fourpure and Magic Rock brands into their next chapters. The sale also includes the breweries and taprooms in London, Huddersfield and Holmfirth and Little Creatures craft beer hospitality venue in Kings Cross, London.
Odyssey is led by Stephen Cox, an industry veteran who has more than 20 years of experience in the world of hospitality and the UK pub sector. He also co-founded Devon’s Utopian Brewing and has worked with a number of brands within the hospitality and drinks sector.
Cox said: “This is an incredible opportunity to take two exceptional brands, Fourpure and Magic Rock, to the next level. Combined with an excellent hospitality proposition, fantastic people and state-of-the-art breweries, we really have the platform to do great things. We’re excited to get started and get to know the team. We bring bags of energy and enthusiasm, entrepreneurial spirit and strong industry experience, and we hope to bring joy to many more customers with these great beers.”
Lion’s UK Managing Director, Gordon Treanor, added: “Odyssey brings together a great team with a clear passion for brewing and hospitality and is ideally placed to take Magic Rock and Fourpure forward. I’d like to thank our brilliant team for their commitment and dedication, especially over the past two years. With some great sales and brand momentum, the business is well placed for the future ahead, under new ownership.”
