By Andrew Starke
Lion Breweries, Lion Nathan’s New Zealand subsidiary, has begun talks with employees at Canterbury Breweries, where up to 24 production jobs may be shed due to restructuring.
Production of Lion Breweries beer brands is undergoing a major shake-up as the result of a $250 million beer manufacturing, contract bottling and warehousing plant coming online at East Tamaki, Auckland later this year.
A spokesperson for Lion Breweries, New Zealand’s largest brewer, said no decision had yet been made on how the new development would impact on jobs at Canterbury Breweries. A consultation process is currently underway and should be completed in August.
Canterbury Draught, Guinness, Steinlager Pure and some of the Mac’s range are currently brewed at Canterbury Breweries.
However it is understood that Lion Nathan wishes to brew some of the Lion brands nearer to Auckland, its largest market.
The brewery at East Tamaki is scheduled to open in the last quarter of 2009 but the plant is not expected to be fully operational till the first quarter of 2011.