The transaction, which is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, marks Kirin’s exit from the American bourbon category after 24 years of ownership. According to the company, the divestment follows a review of its business portfolio and will allow it to reallocate resources toward its high-growth health science and pharmaceutical divisions. This strategic shift has been evidenced by recent moves such as the company’s bid for full ownership of personal care firm Fancl last year.

For E&J Gallo, the deal represents a major expansion for its Spirit of Gallo division. The acquisition of the Kentucky-based distillery follows other recent portfolio additions, including the Gen Z-oriented wine brand Whiny Baby in late 2025.

Commenting on the deal, a Kirin spokesperson stated: “This transaction will allow Kirin to reallocate its resources toward businesses that could further grow by leveraging Kirin’s own organisational capabilities”. A spokesperson for Gallo added: “We’re incredibly excited about this acquisition and the opportunity to welcome Four Roses into our portfolio. No changes are planned to operations, production or distribution”.

Source: ESM / The Drinks Business / AP News / inside.beer

The post Japan: Kirin to sell Four Roses to E&J Gallo appeared first on Gama.

Kirin acquired around 33% of Fancl’s shares and established a capital and business alliance in 2019.

“By commercializing ingredients created through the natural technology of fermentation, leveraging customer understanding gained from Kirin Holdings’ and FANCL’s strong relationships with consumers, and delivering them to consumers through multiple channels in the Asia-Pacific region, the Kirin Group will contribute to solving consumers’ health issues in both the cosmetics and health food businesses and further enhance its presence in the global market in addition to Japan”, the company said in a statement.

Kirin also cited its long-standing immunology research and its existing health food business base in Asia-Pacific, which it acquired through the Blackmores acquisition.

“FANCL’s strengths lie in its ability to connect with and understand consumers through its D2C channels (online and directly-managed store sales), which account for 70% of sales, and in its technology for commercializing products by utilizing consumer feedback in research and development”, Kirin added.

Source: Kirin

The post Japan: Kirin seeks full ownership of Fancl appeared first on Gama.

“Under the Long-Term Management Vision, ‘the Kirin Group Vision 2027’, we are aiming at becoming a global leader in CSV (Creating Shared Value), creating value across our world of Food & Beverages to Pharmaceuticals”, Kirin said in a statement, adding: “With this transfer, Kirin Beverage will further strengthen and expand its business in the Health Science domain, aiming to achieve high profitability”.

In its own statement, Kao said the sale of Healthya “enables Kao to further focus its resources on strategic measures to execute its structural reformation strategy and optimize its business portfolio to achieve its mid-term plan”.

The deal relates to eight product types (Food for Specified Health Uses (FOSHU) and Foods with Function Claims) under the brands Healthya (Green Tea Beverage), Healthya Umami Rich, Healthya Water, Healthya MyRhythm and Healthya Green Tea Powder.

Kirin said it plans to begin production and sales of Healthya beverages from August, subject to obtaining the necessary permits and approvals.

Source: Kirin / Kao

The post Japan: Kirin buys Healthya tea brand from Kao appeared first on Gama.

According to a Reuters report, the deal will enable Kirin to further diversify its portfolio. While  alcoholic beverages comprise around half of Kirin’s sales, the company also has a health sciences division which the Blackmores acquisition is intended to complement.

The Blackmores product range includes vitamins, dietary supplements and infant formula under the Blackmores brand, nutritional and therapeutic supplements under the BioCeuticals brand, and pet supplements under the Paw by Blackmores brand name.

“In the health sciences area, Kirin is strong in Japan while Blackmores has a strong presence in Australia, China, and Southeast Asia”, Kirin senior executive officer Takeshi Minakata is quoted as saying. “The combination of the two companies will enable us to supplement each other’s coverage in areas that have not been covered so far”.

The transaction is expected to close in August.

Source: Kirin / Reuters

The post Australia: Kirin acquires supplement firm Blackmores appeared first on Gama.

The companies are said to be collaborating to create drinks that contain lactococcus lactis strain plasma (LC-Plasma), a postbiotic ingredient developed by Kirin Holdings that is claimed to boost immunity in healthy people.

The collaboration will reportedly help Coca-Cola to bolster its position in the growing health drinks segment, with Kirin potentially able to access new markets where Coca-Cola has an existing presence.

Coca-Cola is said to be planning to include LC-Plasma in products under its Georgia, Irohasu and Minute Maid brands. Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency is reported as having approved the new drinks to tout health benefits.

Source: Nikkei Asia

The post Japan: Coca-Cola to partner with Kirin on immunity drinks appeared first on Gama.

The deal between the two companies had been awaiting approval from Australian competition regulators.

Reuters noted that the announcement followed a media report last week that the deal might be in jeopardy after the approval of a foreign investment law in July.

“This is an unfortunate result, but the revival and restructuring of Lion Dairy & Drinks are a top priority and we will continue to look for the best scenarios for the business with Lion”, Kirin said in a statement.

“We are disappointed with this outcome and will now consider pathways forward in relation to the Lion Dairy & Drinks business”, Lion Australia added.

Sources: Lion (Australia) / Reuters

The post Australia: Kirin and Mengniu to terminate Lion Dairy & Drinks deal appeared first on Gama.

The sale includes all white milk, milk-based drinks, yoghurt, juice and water ice brands and assets, as well as Lion Dairy & Drinks’ International business, its share of the joint ventures Vitasoy Australia Products and Capitol Chilled Foods Australia, and its licensing agreement for the Yoplait brand.

Once completed, the sale, together with that of the specialty cheese business to Saputo Dairy Australia, will represent a full divestment of the Dairy & Drinks business, Lion Australia said.

Commenting on the deal, Lion Australia CEO Stuart Irvine added: “We believe that Mengniu Dairy, a specialty dairy player, is an ideal owner to take Dairy & Drinks forward, given its track record of investing in the Australian dairy industry, together with its global reach and deep capabilities. Bringing the businesses together will help drive Mengniu Dairy’s growth in the Australian domestic market, while also accelerating Dairy & Drinks’ aspirations in South East Asia and China”.

Among Mengniu’s other recent investments in the Australia dairy space this year was its acquisition of infant formula maker Bellamy’s, announced in September.

Source: Lion (Australia)

The post Australia: Lion Australia to sell dairy division to Mengniu appeared first on Gama.

Established in 1991, New Belgium Brewing is said to have grown to become a leading craft brewer, marketing brands such as Fat Tire Amber Ale and Voodoo Ranger IPA, and operating breweries in Fort Collins, Colorado and Asheville, North Carolina.

Lion said that, while it had a significant craft beer portfolio in other markets, up until now it had only a limited presence in the domestic US craft beer market. With presence in all 50 states,  New Belgium Brewing would provide Lion Little World Beverages with immediate scale in the world’s largest craft beer market, the company added.

Commenting on the deal, Lion CEO Stuart Irvine said: “Kirin has entrusted Lion with leading its global craft beer strategy and today’s announcement is an important milestone for all of us as we look to drive growth in markets beyond Australia, New Zealand and Japan”.

The deal value was not disclosed.

Source: Lion Australia

The post USA: Lion Australia acquires New Belgium Brewing appeared first on Gama.

The alliance between the two firms will reportedly focus on the joint development of health foods, drinks and supplements. The companies are also said to be considering developing skin care products based on Kirin’s technological capabilities.

Fancl, which markets a range of skincare and makeup products as well as supplements, recorded sales of ¥122.5 billion ($1.15 billion). The nutritional supplement segment reportedly generated around ¥44 billion ($410 million).

Both companies will also conduct joint research in areas as preventing adult-onset diseases, strengthening immune defences and improving the gastrointestinal biome, the Nikkei Asian Review reports.

Source: Nikkei Asian Review

The post Japan: Kirin forays into supplements with 30% stake in Fancl appeared first on Gama.

Teza previously belonged to  Greenstone Drinks and is described as the first “real-brewed” iced tea in New Zealand. The product is said to be made with batch brewed organic leaf tea and is available in flavours such as Feijoa & Lime Blossom and Lemon & Mandarin.

Teza will be added into Lion’s non-alcoholic drinks division Drinks Collective, which includes brands such as GoodBuzz Kombucha, Hopt and Mac’s Soda.

Commenting on the acquisition, Drinks Collective general manager Stefan Gray said: “The iced tea market is in strong growth globally so we’re incredibly excited to welcome Teza Iced Teas into the Drinks Collective. The brand’s premium offering complements our existing range nicely and will help us deliver greater choice and convenience for consumers across more social occasions. We’ll be leveraging our networks to make the brand more readily available nationwide and the Teza Grassy Tea Bush Van will also be making a return to the streets of NZ”.

The Teza acquisition follows on from Lion’s recent 50% stake in Four Pillars Gin and its purchase of Magic Rock Brewing, both announced in the last month.

Source: Lion

The post Australia: Lion acquires iced tea brand Teza appeared first on Gama.

The launch comes after Kirin’s previous foray into alcohol-free beer-style drinks – a brand called Kirin Free, introduced in 2009 – failed to meet consumers’ taste expectations, a Kirin spokesman said.

The new Zero Ichi is described as a “first of its kind” product in the alcohol-free beer sector, since it uses an Ichiban Shibori method that is “a unique brew made exclusively from the first press of the wort” and is used to produce Kirin’s signature beer brand Kirin Ichiban Shibori. By using this method this time for anon-alcohol beer product, Kirin claims the new drink tastes more like beer, with a wheat flavour.

Said to be free from artificial sweeteners and bittering agent, Kirin Zero Ichi is targeted at consumers in their 30s to 40s for any occasion. The product is due to be launched on 11th April, with consumers able to choose from cans of 350ml and 500ml, or small glass bottles.

Source: Kirin

The post Japan: Kirin Brewery to introduce Zero Ichi brand appeared first on Gama.

This limited edition is advertised as being made with two types of Japanese origin ingredients to offer flavour and high quality: the first is a black leaf teaf from Sashima in Ibaraki, Japan, that is claimed to have low bitterness and a mild flavour, and the second are chestnuts from Ibaraki that are said to have a gentle sweetness.

Mont Blanc is a popular Japanese dessert, made with chestnut and chestnut paste.

Kirin’s new drink is presented in a 250g bottle can that has a wider spout to deliver more aroma and to maximize indulgence, according to the company. The product is being launched with a suggested retail price of ¥138 ($1.17).

Source: Kirin

The post Japan: Kirin introduces chestnut flavoured milk tea drink appeared first on Gama.

It is reported that Grupo Petropolis has organised visits to three of Brasil Kirin’s plants – Alagoinhas (Bahia), Itu (Sao Paulo) and Igrejinha (Rio Grande do Sul) – and could either seek an association with Kirin or else look to purchase factories separately.

Heineken and Ambev, who along with Grupo Petropolis are among Brasil Kirin’s chief competitors in Brazil, are also said to be interested in acquiring the assets, however.

Any deal in favour of Grupo Petropolis could bolster its business in Brazil, sources describe. Acquiring the Alagoinhas unit, for example, would allow the company to expand distribution in the northeast of the country. The Igrejinha facility would meanwhile reinforce the company’s presence in the south, where it is still relatively weak.

Both Grupo Petropolis and Brasil Kirin declined to comment on the matter, sources said.

Source: Supermercado M0derno

The post Brazil: Petropolis vying to acquire Brasil Kirin assets – reports appeared first on Gama.

The new ‘blind’ marketing campaign, promoted as “secret sampling”, sees free cans distributed among Japanese consumers without revealing either the product’s name or its formulation. The sampling initiative was launched in mid September in seven of the largest cities in Japan, with one million cans distributed in what was said to be the largest sampling exercise in the firm’s history.

“Because we are so confident of the taste of our new coffee, we want consumers to enjoy it without being prejudiced by too much prior information”, the company said.

The free samples will be distributed via vending machines, retail stores and the company website, with the new coffee finally available for sale from 4^th October.

Source: Nissyoku / Kirin

The post Japan: Kirin launches ‘mystery’ coffee in unmarked packaging appeared first on Gama.

The expansion works are reportedly already underway and will be divided into six stages, with an initial investment of R$400 million ($124 million). They are estimated to be completed within the next five years.

The expansion covers an area of 38,000 sq m throughout the plant, which has three production lines. The redeveloped plant will have a rainwater recycling system and is also designed to consume 30% less electricity than other facilities operated by Brasil Kirin, according to reports.

As well as Pernambuco, the plant will supply the states of Rio Grande do Norte, Ceara and Alagoas.

Brasil Kirin owns and markets brands such as Schin, Devassa, Baden Baden, Eisenbahn, Kirin Ichiban, Cintra, Glacial, Fibz, Ecco!, Itubaina, Fruthos and Skinka.

Source: Exame

The post Brazil: Brasil Kirin invests R$900 million to extend factory appeared first on Gama.

The launch is said to mark Kirin Beer’s first entry into private label, the company having previously avoided moving into the sector in order to maintain its positioning as a premium brand. Now, in the face of tightening market conditions, Kirin said it was hoping to boost its sales by leveraging the “strong distribution channel” offered by Seven & I, according to reports.

Named Maroyaka Ale Muroka (Unfiltered Mallow Ale) and containing 5% abv, Kirin’s new beer is said to have a mild, aromatic taste. It is to be launched in June under the 7iGold brand, which is Seven’s premium product range, although the Kirin label will still feature prominently, it is reported.

Targeted at consumers in their 20s and 30s, the product is presented in a 305ml bottle priced at 228 JPY ($1.28).

Source: Business Journal

The post Japan: Kirin Beer introduces first private label beer appeared first on Gama.

The move would reportedly be made through San Miguel Brewery (SMB), a company in which Kirin owns a 48.39% stake.

Kirin currently produces and sells water, carbonated soft drinks, juice and RTD tea in countries including China, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia & Brazil, and would introduce its products in the Philippines progressively, according to reports.

Keisuke Nishimura, Kirin senior director, said:  “The beer market is still growing (in the Philippines), but SMB has almost 90% market share so we don’t have so much room to get another market share. To go into the soft drinks business makes sense for us because we can utilize so many platforms of the beer business”.

Mr Nishimura also confirmed that Kirin wase considering exploring the dairy market in the Philippines. “Many of the dairy products are from foreign countries like New Zealand and Australia. We should check whether we can start the dairy business in Philippines”, he said.

Source: Pack Web Asia

The post Philippines: Kirin reportedly looking to enter beverage market appeared first on Gama.

Due for launch on 10^th March 2015, Butterfly contains only 1% abv and is said to be have been created in response to the needs of a younger audience. According to Kirin, a survey it conducted revealed that while 90% of those surveyed enjoyed alcohol, they were drinking less heavily than previous generations, citing health concerns and lack of time among other factors.

Based on cider, the Butterfly range is designed to be consumed easily and casually in any situation. It comes in a 250ml single serve size and is available in a choice of three flavours: Kiraku ni Iko! Apple (Take it easy! Apple) in a red can, Yuke, Yuke! Ginger (Let’s Go! Ginger ) in a green can, and Nonkini Kocha (Happy-go-Lucky Tea)” in a pale brown can.

Source: Markezine / Kirin

The post Japan: Kirin to launch 1% abv beverage to target younger drinkers appeared first on Gama.

According to the Japan Times, the company, which holds about 48% of the Philippine beer maker, would weigh boosting its stake if offered. San Miguel Corp. currently owns 51% of the San Miguel Brewery.

Commenting on the potential move, Ramon Ang, the head of San Miguel said, that he had received several bids of as much as $6 billion for its 51% stake in the brewery unit, and that Kirin had not offered to buy the remaining stake.

The Japan Times went on to say that the Japanese company’s show of interest comes amid a profit forecast behind analyst estimates as sales expanded at a slower pace. The newspaper further added that Kirin’s net income is likely fall 43% to ¥49 billion ($480 million) this year.

Source: The Japan Times

The post Japan: Kirin interested in raising stake in San Miguel Brewery appeared first on Gama.