UK’s Halewood buys majority stake in Australia’s Ironbark Distillery

Halewood Wine and Spirits has acquired a majority stake in Ironbark Distillery and established an import business in Australia.

Based in North Richmond, New South Wales (NSW), Ironbark produces alcoholic beverages such as vodka, gin, rum and moonshine. The deal will allow Halewood to export these products to markets in the UK, US and China.

Ironbark master distiller and director Reg Papps said: “To have a business partner like Halewood Australia behind Ironbark gives us the opportunity to see the business grow to its full potential and be carried forward for many generations.”

Ironbark is also planning to triple the production capacity of its gin, rum and whisky products.

Halewood’s new business unit will import and distribute products such as JJ Whitley gin, Dead Man’s Fingers rum, Aber Falls spirits, Whitley Neill gin and the Peaky Blinder spirits range in Australia.

Halewood Wines & Spirits CEO Stewart Hainsworth said: “The formation of the Halewood Australia business is an exciting step for us internationally and will allow us to introduce our wider portfolio. We look forward to successfully developing the Ironbark brand globally.”

Halewood currently operates in China, Thailand, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and the US. The company exports its products to more than 100 countries worldwide.

In July 2016, Halewood acquired a significant stake in Irish firm West Cork Distillers to strengthen its position in the international market.