The Independent Brewers Association (IBA) has released a statement on Lion’s purchase of the Fermentum Group, which includes Stone & Wood, Fixation and Two Birds Brewing.
IBA Chair Peter Philip thanked the Fermentum for their contribution to the association and wished them well with the next stage of their journey.
Philip said: “The IBA are obviously saddened by the loss of Stone and Wood from our stable of indie brewers and of course as valued members of our association. Ultimately, the reality is that business owners need to make decisions every day on what is best for them, their shareholders and their staff.
“The Stone & Wood team, including my predecessor Jamie Cook, have given a lot to our organisation and the industry as a whole and we will always be appreciative that they laid the foundation for the independent craft industry to flourish. Personally, I wish Jamie and the team nothing but the best and thank them for being an outstanding example for what indie brewers can achieve.
“Moving forward, this transaction underlines the strength and growing importance of our industry. The growth of indie breweries is testament to the fact that consumer demand is driving growth so although this might appear to be a loss, it simply paves the way for others to grow to fill the void and to take advantage of the trend.
“We know that Australians want greater connections to community, to the people that make their beer and to their local meeting places so the IBA will continue to move forward supporting our members who are delivering great beer and great experiences.”