Lion Nathan Christchurch brewery to be demolished
Japanese-owned Lion Nathan National Foods is not rebuilding its earthquake-damaged brewery in Christchurch and will instead build a warehouse.
Japanese-owned Lion Nathan National Foods is not rebuilding its earthquake-damaged brewery in Christchurch and will instead build a warehouse.
The company will invest $15 million in a new warehouse and distribution centre at its Canterbury Brewery site in the central business district, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee said.
The company is also investing $28m in the Speight's Brewery in Dunedin and its "The Pride" site in East Tamaki, Auckland, to help cope with the production gap left by the closure of the Canterbury Brewery.
"While it is unfortunate that Lion Nathan will no longer be brewing in Christchurch, it's good to have such a positive commitment to staying in Canterbury," Mr Brownlee said.
Prime Minister John Key previously opened Lion Nathan's new $250m brewery and warehouse in East Tamaki, which replaced its historic site in Newmarket.
"This announcement by Lion Nathan today is a vote of confidence in the region as a business hub," Mr Brownlee said.
TV3 reported that 22 people would lose their jobs at the brewery but that they would hopefully be redeployed. Sixteen new jobs would be created in Dunedin.
Lion Nathan, which was run for many years by New Zealand businessman Sir Douglas Myers, is wholly owned by Japan's Kirin Holdings Company Ltd.
NZPA and NBR staff
Thu, 26 May 2011
Thu, 26 May 2011
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Lion Nathan Christchurch brewery to be demolished
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