Champion Breweries to brew Bature craft beers nationwide, with option to buy brands

Champion Breweries Plc will manufacture and distribute Bature Brewery’s craft beers across Nigeria under a new agreement that gives it an option to acquire three of the brewery’s brands. The deal with Thistlerock Enterprises Limited, owner of Bature Brewery, covers Lagos Lager, Black Gold Stout and Harmattan Haze. It was disclosed in a statement on Friday, November 6, 2026.

Champion will produce the beers at its brewery in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and distribute them through its nationwide network. Bature will license the three brands to the listed brewer for manufacturing and sales across Nigeria. Bature, one of Nigeria’s pioneering independent craft breweries, will retain ownership of the brands and control product development, brand strategy and consumer engagement. It will also continue to serve its hospitality customers directly in Lagos.

Option tied to 40,000 hectolitres

Under the agreement, Champion Breweries will handle brewing, packaging and distribution of the three brands. The pact gives Champion an option to acquire the three brands outright, including their trademarks, recipes and goodwill, once their combined annual sales reach 40,000 hectolitres, equivalent to 4 million litres. The acquisition would be based on a pre-agreed, performance-linked valuation and would require the necessary corporate and regulatory approvals. The current agreement does not amount to an outright acquisition of Bature Brewery or its brands.

"Champion Breweries Plc (NGX: CHAMPION) has entered into an agreement with Thistlerock Enterprises Limited, owner of Bature Brewery, to manufacture and distribute Bature’s craft beers across Nigeria," the statement said. Champion Breweries Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Malolan Sampath said the partnership would allow the company to use its manufacturing capacity and distribution network to expand the reach of established Nigerian beverage brands. Bature Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Conroy said the arrangement would help the brewery reach consumers beyond its existing Lagos market while retaining control of the brands’ creative direction.

Rollout starts in December

Distribution will begin in phases. Lagos Lager is expected to launch at the Calabar Festival in December 2026. Harmattan Haze is scheduled to follow in the first quarter of 2027. Black Gold Stout is expected to enter the market later in 2027.

Champion builds on recent deals

Champion Breweries has been expanding its beverage portfolio through acquisitions as it diversifies beyond traditional beer and malt. In February 2026, it completed the acquisition of the Bullet global brand portfolio from Sun Mark, securing trademarks, formulations and commercial rights. The acquisition gave Champion access to a portfolio distributed across 14 African markets, including Nigeria. It also strengthened its presence in ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages and energy drinks.

Champion Breweries reported revenue of N29.80 billion for the financial year ended December 2025, a 43% increase from the previous year. Profit before tax rose by 108% to N2.65 billion, while profit after tax increased by 119% to N1.79 billion. Its more recent results showed a decline in profitability. Champion recorded a pre-tax profit of N917.52 million for the nine months ended September 2026, a 70.77% decline from N3.14 billion in the corresponding period of 2025. This was despite a 139.85% increase in revenue and a 47.50% rise in operating profit to N6.33 billion, according to unaudited third-quarter results filed with the Nigerian Exchange (NGX).

Competition in Nigeria’s beverage market

Nigerians spent approximately N1.41 trillion on beer, malt and spirits in the first half of 2026, based on the financial results of Nigerian Breweries, International Breweries and Guinness Nigeria. The three companies account for roughly 90% of Nigeria’s formal brewing industry. Younger Nigerians are increasingly exploring spirits, wine, ready-to-drink beverages and non-alcoholic alternatives. Craft beer continues to gain traction in urban centres. Nigeria’s three listed breweries spent more than N220 billion on advertising and distribution in the first half of 2026 as they competed for shelf space and consumer attention.