39 redundancies from Boag’s Brewery in Launceston were announced this week, following Lion’s decision to move around 20 million litres of annual brewing volume from the site to the mainland. James Brindley, Managing Director of Lion Beer, Spirits & Wine Australia has said that the decision is not something the company has taken lightly.

“This is no reflection on the dedication and capability of our people at Boag’s Brewery or the importance of the Tasmanian market to our business. We recognise the impact this will have on our people and we will be providing them with comprehensive support to help them manage this transition”, Brindley said.

The production being moved includes that of a number of various national, undisclosed beer brands, which have been brewed alongside James Boag’s beer at the brewery since 2007.

“This change will essentially return Boag’s Brewery to its traditional focus on the Boag’s portfolio of Tasmanian beers, which is still a very substantial 36 million litres”, Brindley added.

“We have capacity in our national network and Boag’s Brewery in its current format is also under-utilised. This change will allow us to reconfigure Boag’s Brewery to a size more appropriate for the Boag’s portfolio, significantly improving efficiency.”

The transition is expected to be completed by the end of September 2016. Lion has confirmed that relationships with local suppliers for Boag’s beers will not be affected by the move, while Boag’s Centre for Beer Lovers will remain open.