Lion Nathan can swallow up brewer

Lion Nathan has Overseas Investment Office consent to buy 16.7ha in South Auckland to build a $250 million brewery.

The land will be the site of a new manufacturing and warehousing facility for the New Zealand arm of the Tasmanian boutique brewer J. Boag & Son.

Works will begin in January at the site in East Tamaki.

Lion Nathan has also been cleared by the Australian competition watchdog to buy Boag from Philippines-based San Miquel Corp for A$325 million.

The new Auckland facility was expected to be up and running in about four years, Lion said.