Calgary firm wants to buy Lakeport brewery
Minhas Creek wants to expand in Ontario
April 12, 2010
Meredith MacLeod
http://www.thespec.com/Business%20News/article/752061
A Calgary brewery is interested in buying Lakeport.
Minhas Creek Brewing Company, which produces under the Boxer Lager brand of beer, is looking at taking over the Burlington Street plant but stresses it’s not interested in buying the Lakeport brand of beers.
Minhas Creek, owned by 20-something brother and sister team Ravinder and Manjit Minhas, is contacting Labatt, the Port Authority, which owns the land and the building, Teamsters Union 938 and city officials, according to a press release issued late this morning.
Minhas Creek began brewing in the West in November 2007. It has been recently urging the LCBO and The Beer Store to carry more of its stock after surging sales in Ontario since it was introduced here last fall.
Labatt announced March 30 that it will shutter the Hamilton brewery April 30 and move production of Lakeport beers to London. The company said it would take all the brewing equipment out of the plant. City and provincial politicians have called for Labatt to pursue a buyer for the plant that could continue brewing in the city.