Halewood makes its first foray into beer

By Lisa Riley

Published: 02 March, 2017

Halewood Wine & Spirit has acquired a majority stake in Lake District brewery Hawkshead marking its first foray into beer.

As part of the partnership, Hawkshead will build a new brewery in a bid to expand production and gain new routes to market for its craft beers.

Liverpool-based Halewood will take a controlling interest in the brewer - specific terms of the deal are undisclosed - but Hawkshead would continue to operate independently, with Halewood as its main distributor and investor, said Halewood ceo Stewart Hainsworth.

The partnership had been born out of demand for Hawkshead beers exceeding the brewer's ability to supply, said founder and MD Alex Brodie, who set up the company in 2002. The deal gave Hawkshead a way of getting "significant investment" without being absorbed into "big beer", he added.

"We have gone about as far as we can on our own and this partnership with a business that shares our values - Halewood sees small, craft and premium as the future - will allow us to grow and fulfil our potential."

Other producers in Halewood's portfolio includes Willow Water, Liverpool Gin and North Wales whisky distillery Aber Falls which is due to open later this year.

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