Auckland’s Deep Creek Brewing has announced it is in liquidation, further highlighting the financial strife happening in the craft brewing industry in New Zealand.
Founded in 2011 by Jarred Maclachlan, Paul Brown and Scott Taylor, Deep Creek began as a small brewery on Auckland’s North Shore.
By 2019, they employed more than 40 staff and began exporting to China.
In a statement on their Facebook page on October 31, the Deep Creek team said:
“Today is a sad day for our Deep Creek team. After more than 12 years of Deep Creek serving up flavour fuelled brews in NZ, the decision has been taken to liquidate our company.
“Although we battled through the COVID period, this was a difficult time for the company due to market pressures in NZ and also in our key export market of China.
“In 2023 the Chinese market rebounded strongly but very recently we had a can seaming issue that required our beer to be recalled from the market.
“The cash flow impact of this recall was significant and proved to be a step too large for our team to overcome. We are deeply saddened by this.
“We would like to thank our amazing customers and fans for the many years of support, from entertaining festivals, parties at our bars and votes for people’s choice awards in numerous competitions, it has been a privilege to serve flavour fuelled beer to everyone.
“We also want to thank our amazing staff who have consistently gone above and beyond in order to bring Deep Creek beer to the masses. They are a big team of legends.”
More than 200 comments expressed devastation at the announcement.
“You’ve always looked out for me in the past; if it weren’t for this beautiful brewery I doubt I’d still be here,” wrote one follower.
“You guys have not only left a lasting impression on this country in more ways than just brewing good beer, but you’ve represented your country internationally within the scene to a level that you should all be incredibly proud of.
“You’re all such great people, I feel honoured to have gotten to get to know you all, and I am just so so so bummed to hear the news. Wish there was something I could do – if there is, let me know.”
Liquidators Paul Vlasic and Derek Ah Sam from Rodgers Reidy have been appointed liquidators, according to Companies Office records.
The news follows the July announcement that Epic Brewing Company called in insolvency experts and the August news that Brothers Beer was put into voluntary administration.
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