Kirin Holdings Company, Limited was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Kirin manufactures and sells alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and pharmaceuticals and bio-chemicals in Japan and internationally. It operates through three segments: Japan Integrated Beverages Business, Overseas Integrated Beverages Business and Pharmaceuticals and Bio-chemicals Business.
The Kirin Group has been operating in Australia for 25 years, since acquiring a 46% stake in Lion Nathan in 1998. After acquiring National Foods and Dairy Farmers in 2007 and 2008 respectively, Kirin acquired the remaining stake in Lion Nathan in 2009.
Although we have sold some of our businesses in response to changes in the business environment, Lion plays an important role within the Kirin Group, particularly in the alcoholic beverage business.
We are proud to offer our customers iconic Australian beer brands such as XXXX, Toohey’s and Hahn. We are also proud of the Four Pillars Gin brand in the Yarra Valley, Victoria, which we acquired 50% of in 2019 and the remaining share in 2023. In addition, Blackmores, Australia’s leading natural health company, joined the Kirin Group in 2023. This is a sign of the Kirin Group’s commitment to further developing its business in Australia.
KEY MILESTONES
- 1998 – Capital participation in Lion Nathan (46%)
- 2007 – Acquisition of all shares in National Foods
- 2008 – Acquisition of all shares in Dairy Farmers
- 2009 – Lion Nathan becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion Nathan and becomes Lion Nathan National Foods
- 2011 – Name changed to Lion
- 2019 – Acquisition of 50% shares in Four Pillars Gin
- 2023 – Four Pillars Gin becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lion
- 2023 – Acquisition of all shares in Blackmores
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