Champion Breweries Plc has announced a partnership with Thistlerock Enterprises Limited, the parent company of Bature Brewery, to produce and distribute Bature’s craft beers throughout Nigeria. This agreement enables Champion Breweries to brew, package, and distribute several flagship beers, including Lagos Lager, Black Gold Stout, and Harmattan Haze, from its facility in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The partnership allows Champion Breweries to leverage its national distribution network to enhance the accessibility of these craft beers. Bature Brewery, while licensing its products to Champion, will maintain control over product development, branding, and consumer engagement, ensuring it continues to serve its Lagos clientele directly.
As part of this agreement, Champion Breweries has an option to acquire three Bature beer brands should they achieve an annual sales target of 40,000 hectolitres, pending necessary corporate and regulatory approvals.
Malolan Sampath, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Champion Breweries, emphasized the company’s ambition to expand its beverage offerings and highlighted the potential of the Nigerian beverage industry. He stated that the partnership reflects a commitment to supporting distinctive local brands like Bature.
Kevin Conroy, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bature Brewery, expressed excitement about the collaboration, noting that it would allow their beers to reach a broader audience while staying true to their original vision of crafting unique Nigerian beers.
The planned rollout of the beers will commence with Lagos Lager at the Calabar Festival in December 2026, followed by Harmattan Haze in early 2027, and Black Gold Stout later in the year.
