Non-alcoholic drinks, craft beers boost Lion's profitsDEAN KOZANIC/FAIRFAX NZTougher drink-driving rules are changing the type of drinks breweries are making, with "premium drinks" and lower or non-alcoholic beverages becoming the industry's new hope. Lion's incursions into the craft beer scene include the purchase of Wellington's Panhead Custom Ales earlier this year, and Dunedin's Emerson's craft beer brand in 2012. A taste for more premium products such as craft beer also helped push up sales revenue. ​In addition to acquiring Panhead, Lion also secured the distribution rights to Invivo Wines this year. But the volume of beer sold was up only 2.5 per cent, indicating greater profit margins as several years of falling demand for tap and pack beer begin to stabilise.

Source: Stuff August 08, 2016 06:11 UTC