Wellington's Tuatara Breweries will be making beer overseas by the end of the year, chief executive Richard Shirtcliffe says.

But Tuatara beer drinkers should fear not because the craft brewer would still be producing the majority of its beer at its two breweries in Paraparaumu and central Wellington, Shirtcliffe said.

"New Zealand is our main market and always will be."

JOHN ANTHONY/FAIRFAX NZ Tuatara Breweries chief executive Richard Shirtcliffe says the company will start brewing overseas before the end of 2015.

Tuatara had experienced significant growth over the past 18 months especially in overseas markets with exports growing about 320 per cent this year, Shirtcliffe said.

Much of that was coming out of Australia, Britain, Ireland and Asia especially China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, he said.

"That caused us to really think hard about how we best execute in those market."

In two of those markets Tuatara was "actively engaged" with partners to contract brew but he declined to disclose which ones.

"In the next two months we should have both of those signed off all things being equal."

The move made sense both economically and environmentally, Shirtcliffe said.

Tuatara would be brewing and distributing kegs and bottled beer in those markets through a contract brewing arrangement using mostly New Zealand ingredients, he said.

The company's trademark reptilian shaped bottles were made in New Zealand by an international company and could be produced overseas if need be, he said.

In February Tuatara joined fellow craft brewers Yeastie Boys, Renaissance Brewing, 8 Wired Brewing Co and Three Boys Brewery to form the New Zealand Craft Beer Collective which signed a deal with an international drinks distributor Instil Drinks Co.

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For years Tuatara has been a leader in New Zealand's growing craft beer which is growing at an estimated 25 per cent a year.

The company's sales have increased from 27 per cent in the 2014 year to 52 per cent in 2015, Shirtcliffe said.

In 2013 Wellington investment company Rangatira bought a 35 per cent of Tuatara for an undisclosed sum.

Shirtcliffe, who was appointed as chief executive six month later, said the Rangitira investment was a watershed moment for the company.

Rangitira provided seasoned experience at the board table, expert advice and the opportunity for the craft brewer to "reinvigorate itself".

After attracting investment Tuatara looked at better utilising staff and filling any gaps, while also reassessing its processes, brand, product range, channel management and supply chain, Shirtcliffe said.

"In every case we needed some hard work and determination to recreate ourselves in order to be set up for any kind of future success."

Shirtcliffe said Rangitira were attracted to Tuatara after the company was named a Deloitte Fast 50 company in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

"It was an obvious fishing ground for a private equity firm's future investment."

The Fast 50 ranks businesses experiencing rapid revenue growth.

Being in the Deloitte Fast 50 could be extremely valuable for companies wanting to attract investment, he said.

"It gets you on the radar."

It also forced companies to analyse their business, he said.

Tuatara was not entering the Fast 50 this year because it was not looking at investment, but it could be an option in the future if the company decided to undertake another capital raising, he said.

The remaining 65 per cent of Tuatara was owned by founders Carl Vaster and Sean Murrie and smaller shareholders and the private equity investment did not make it a rich company, Shirtcliffe said.

"It doesn't mean we're up all night ironing cash."

Quite the opposite because the company was having to reinvest in the business to ensure it achieved sustained growth, he said.

Tuatara now has about 50 staff, half of which were full time employees.