Champion Breweries, Bature Brewery Partner to Take Nigerian Craft Beer Nationwide - THISDAYLIVE
Champion Breweries Plc has entered into an agreement with Thistlerock Enterprises Limited, owner of Bature Brewery, to manufacture and distribute Bature’s craft beers across Nigeria.
The agreement also grants Champion Breweries an option to acquire three Bature brands, subject to agreed sales performance milestone.
Under the agreement, Champion will brew, package and distribute Bature’s core beers, Lagos Lager, Black Gold Stout and Harmattan Haze, at its brewery in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, leveraging its national distribution network to expand their availability across Nigeria.
Bature will license the brands to Champion Breweries for manufacturing and distribution in Nigeria, retaining ownership and control of product development, brand strategy and consumer engagement, while still serving its Lagos hospitality accounts directly.
The acquisition option, which covers the brands’ trademarks, recipes and goodwill, would be exercised once annual sales reach 40,000 hectolitres, at a pre-agreed, performance-linked valuation, subject to the necessary corporate and regulatory approvals.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Champion Breweries, Malolan Sampath, said: “Our ambition is to build a diversified beverage business that creates value through the brands we own, the capabilities we develop and the partnerships we establish. We see significant opportunities to leverage our manufacturing expertise and distribution network to help distinctive Nigerian brands reach more consumers.
“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. This partnership reflects our confidence in the long-term potential of Nigeria’s beverage industry and our commitment to playing a meaningful role in its growth.”
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bature Brewery, Kevin Conroy, said: “When we started Bature, we believed Nigeria could produce world-class craft beers with a character and identity entirely their own. What has been most rewarding is seeing people embrace that vision and build a community around our beers. We are incredibly proud of what we have created in Lagos, but we have always believed Bature could go much further.
“This partnership marks an exciting new chapter for us. It means more Nigerians will have the opportunity to discover and enjoy our beers, while we stay true to the creativity, originality and passion that made Bature what it is today.”
The beers will be rolled out nationally in phases, beginning with Lagos Lager, which is targeted for launch at the Calabar Festival in December 2026, one of the largest consumer gatherings in the Nigerian calendar.
Harmattan Haze is expected to follow in the first quarter of 2027, with Black Gold Stout later in 2027.
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