Australia’s first female-founded brewery, Two Birds, to close

Lion has announced Two Birds Brewery will cease production, closing The Nest, the company’s taproom and brewhouse, on July 21, 2023.

Founded by trailblazers Jayne Lewis and Danielle Allen 12 years ago, Two Birds Brewery pioneered female participation in the business of beer and was Australia’s first female-founded brewery.

Two Birds Brewing became part of Lion through the purchase of Stone & Wood’s family of brands called Fermentum in 2021. In a statement, Lion said the closure was due to sales volume decline.

Ed Jamison, Head of Marketing at Fermentum, said that although the award-winning brewery had had local and international success, sales had been on a downward trend for several years.

“Despite continued marketing investment, it is not showing signs of a turnaround, and we’ve made the difficult decision to cease brewing Two Birds and close The Nest taproom in Spotswood, Victoria,” he said.

A statement from Lewis and Allen on the Two Birds Brewing site read: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of our beloved brand and brewery. We are saddened by this news, as it marks the end of an incredible journey that has brought us immeasurable joy and countless unforgettable experiences.”

Rich Crowe, Supply Chain Leader at Fermentum, said Lewis and Allen had blazed a trail for diversity and including in Australian’s brewing industry. 

“Closing Two Birds is a difficult decision that has not been taken lightly and we want to continue to acknowledge and celebrate their unique contribution both to the Fermentum team and the wider industry.

“We have been working through this with Jayne and Danielle and, with their support, plan to continue their annual tradition of brewing an International Women’s Day ‘Warrior Woman’ brew alongside our women brewers. We will also be working with them on an ongoing mentoring and scholarship program that complements Lion’s existing range of DEI programs,” he said.

Danielle Allen, Co-Founder of Two Birds Brewing, said: “The legacy of Two Birds will continue to live on, not only in the hearts of those who have enjoyed our unique brews but also in the progress we have made towards gender equality in the brewing world. 

We are honoured to have played a role in shifting perceptions, fostering inclusivity, and empowering countless women to follow their dreams within this industry and others,” she said.

The closure will impact six permanent and seven casual team members, with redeployment opportunities currently being explored in other parts of Lion. If no alternative roles are available, Lion will provide redundancy, outplacement support and counselling to impacted team members.

“We wish to express our gratitude to our supporters, partners, suppliers, many collaborators and our dedicated team, both past and present, for their unwavering support throughout the years. We look forward to supporting Lion’s programs aimed at encouraging more women to join the brewing industry,” concluded Allen.

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