Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham takeover leads to unexpected benefit that could make him millions

Wrexham Lager, which was recently purchased by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, is looking to move to a new, larger premises in the city centre to support the growth in demand

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have their sights set on international expansion for Wrexham Lager following their successful acquisition. The stars' majority stake in the historic beer brand, dating back to a rich 1882 heritage, was confirmed last week.

They've piloted Wrexham AFC to astounding heights with consecutive promotions, thanks to manager Phil Parkinson's leadership, and are now aiming to propel Wrexham Lager onto the global stage, starting with launches in the United States and Canada.

Interest in the brand has soared internationally, prompting Chief Executive James Wright to announce plans for relocation to a bigger facility in Wrexham's heart to ramp up production. In an interview with Sky Australia, Wright expressed his delight over the celebrity co-ownership involving McElhenney, Reynolds, and the Allyn family, which will significantly amplify the brand's global profile.

He said: "The fact that we've got these co-owners coming on board, with Rob McElhenney, Ryan Reynolds and the Allyn family, enables us to really maximise exposure and our plan to export globally." Boasting of the opportunities their backing brings, Wright added, "I'm very fortunate to have met them, and it gives us a fantastic springboard to create awareness in certain parts of the market."

With North America next on the agenda, he confirmed: "We're about to go live in North America - Canada and the US - and a lot more countries in Europe will be taking the brand on." As a testament to this growth trajectory, Wright shared that they are enhancing the brewery's capacity by adding more vessels to cater to the burgeoning demand. "The (long-term) plan is to build a brand-new brewery that will hopefully open by the end of 2025 in the centre of Wrexham."

The exact location for the new brewery remains under wraps, but whispers around town suggest the old Jewson builders' merchant site next to Wrexham General train station is in the running. Just a stone's throw from the Racecourse Ground, the plans are rumoured to include a bar and brewery tour. Currently, Wrexham Lager calls a unit on St George's Crescent home, tucked away behind a local chippy.

Tapping into the rich tapestry of its past, Mr Wright emphasised the importance of the brewery's heritage in promoting the lager, notably its link to the Titanic.

He shared: "In the US, they like the fact that Wrexham Lager used to be served on the Titanic and the history that goes back to 1882 ticks a certain box. There's also quite a lot of people who are into football or soccer, so that creates awareness. We have the Welcome to Wrexham TV series, which has over 162 million people viewing that programme, and that enables us to have awareness of the brand."

"That's going to help, but what's really important is that we need to make sure we have the right credentials and the right strategy to make sure we have a sustainable brand within any market we go to."

Wrexham Lager has received a significant investment from Red Dragon Ventures, the collaborative venture of Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, alongside the New York-based Allyn family. This financial boost coincides with the day the former owners of medical device giant Welch Allyn acquired a minority share in the League One football club.

Mr Wright expressed his enthusiasm about the new partnership after meeting with Eric Allyn, who manages the Allyn family's investments, and his daughter Kaleen. He shared: "I was fortunate to meet them a couple of weeks ago. They're very keen to be hands-on and that's fantastic."

Emphasising the simplicity and enjoyment of their business, Mr Wright added: "As I always say, we're not selling nuclear atoms, we're selling liquid in a bottle. It's about having fun and not making it complicated." He concluded with a vision for the future, stating: "This is about having an exciting journey and bringing the brand and the history to different markets."