Four Pillars sell remaining 50% share of business to Lion

Australia's Four Pillars have sold the remaining 50% share of the business, will Lion now becoming 100% owners. The Four Pillars team released the following statement to announce the news.

**** STATEMENT FROM FOUR PILLARS ****

"Hi, it's Cam, Matt and Stu here. Strap yourselves in, and maybe go make yourself a drink, because today is a momentous day in the history of Four Pillars. 
 
Back in March 2019, we partnered with Lion Australia to help fund our growth and our ambitions for Four Pillars and for Australian gin. Lion purchased 50% of our business and made a significant investment in the next phase of our gin journey, allowing us to do more of the things we love with the freedom of not worrying quite so much about how we were going to pay for them. 
 
As we said at the time, our decision to partner was about funding and growing our commitment to small batch gin experiments and collaborations, growing our commitment to sustainability, growing our home in Healesville and growing our business to employ more people and take our passion for Australian flavour and hospitality around the world. And we promised nothing would change (except for the better) when it came our values, our beliefs and our gins. 
 
That was in 2019, and then 2020 happened. And then 2021. And then 2022. And now, let’s be honest, 2023 hasn’t been much better. But despite the challenges each year has thrown at all of us, our business has grown, our gins have got even better and we maintained our focus enough to win IWSC International Gin Producer of the Year two years in a row. It’s been a hell of a journey.
 
And now we have the opportunity to take our business to the next level, yet again. Which is why we’re proud to announce that we have sold  the second half of Four Pillars Gin to Lion, meaning that Lion is now the full owner of Australia’s finest gin business.

It’s a landmark day, approaching a decade since we started Four Pillars. What began as a dream to make the best gin we could from the back of a mate’s winery in Warrandyte has become ACTUALLY the world’s best gin, made at PROBABLY the best gin distillery on the planet, right here in Healesville. 

Lion has been a wonderful, supportive partner since March 2019; they backed us at every step through Covid, helped us fund our incredible new distillery and allowed us to grow, create and experiment in gin as much as we liked. And we have grown together, we have learnt more about how to work with a more divergent customer base across Australia and New Zealand and they have learnt what makes Australia’s top craft distillery tick.
 
This is a great day for our investors (many of whom are staff and old mates) who supported us when we were nothing more than a pipe dream. It is also a day where we need to reinforce what we have done and what we will continue to do: make the world’s best gin at the world’s most sustainable distillery while having a whole load of fun.
 
All of which brings us to you, the people who helped get us here. We very much hope you will judge us, and our new owners, by our collective actions. 
 
So, what should you expect to see change? 
 
In the short term, very little. Because this next phase is all about growth, we hope to see the distillery and whole business prosper under the new era. 
 
And what about us, the co-founders? Well the two good ones (Stu’s words) Matt and Cam, are staying on full-time to steer the ship, while the rogue pirate Stu (also Stu’s words) will sail off into a gin-soaked sunset come September but will likely be back for special appearances and free drinks at our bars in Healesville and Surry Hills. 
 
For now we just wanted to thank you for supporting us over the journey, allowing us to build a business that has become so appealing to so many and so important to our community here in Healesville. Our families, ginvestors and staff thank you for everything, too. For we are nothing without you. We started with a workforce of two and one solitary gin still. We now have six magnificent CARL stills and upwards of 150 people in our business, who all love Four Pillars as much as you do. So thanks for the decade of delicious memories and drinks –  we promise there will be many more to come.
 
With more love, respect and gratitude than you can possibly imagine. Plus a huge dose of excitement for what’s next for Four Pillars Gin.
 
Cam, Matt & Stu"