Mac's needs a hand

By SIMON HENDERY and NZPA

Increasing sales of upmarket Mac's beer have forced the label's owner to shift some production out of its home town of Nelson.

The Mac's brewery has been unable to keep up with demand for Mac's Gold, its most popular beer, and has seconded the services of the Canterbury Brewery in Christchurch.

Both companies are owned by brewing giant Lion Nathan.

While the Canterbury Brewery has been called in to produce some Mac's Gold during the peak summer season over the past two years, it will now become an ongoing supplier of kegs of the beer.

Sales of all Mac's beers have risen 18 per cent in the past year as drinkers turn to premium beers.

Mac's Gold sales had increased 23 per cent in the last 12 months.

And while overall sales of tap beers have been declining in recent years, tap sales of Mac's Gold have increased 85 per cent since April 2000.