Timmsy
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SOUTH Australian brewer Coopers will spend $6 million this year upgrading its Regency Park brewery in readiness for the possible Australian production of Budweiser beer.
Managing director Tim Cooper said no concrete deal had been signed with Budweiser brand owner Anheuser-Busch InBev but a key Australian sales threshold would be met mid-year.
"We needed to reach a threshold of more than 500,000 cases ... at the rate we're selling, we could say we would have hit it by mid 2009," Mr Cooper said.
Coopers has distributed Budweiser beer in Australia through its 80 per cent-owned company Premium Beverages since 2002 and in New Zealand since October, 2008.
But Anheuser-Busch's $79 billion takeover by Belgian brewer InBev in November had meant contract brewing talks between both companies had been "like starting all over again".
However, Premium Beverages managing director Bruce Siney already had begun talks with the new owners and Anheuser-Busch InBev representatives were expected to visit South Australia "shortly", Mr Cooper said. "They represent an enormous proportion of worldwide capacity, one in three beers."
Mr Cooper was hopeful talks would be successful because Australian's thirst for premium and imported beers was strong.
"Australia represents 1-2 per cent of worldwide volume but we're of interest because it's recognised that beer in Australia is a good premium market; returns are reasonable."
Anheuser-Busch InBev describes itself as one of the top five global consumer product companies with 200 beer brands in its portfolio including Budweiser, Stella Artois, Beck's Leffe and Hoegaarden as well as Brazil's Skol and Brahma, Argentina's Quilmes, China's Harbin and Korea's Cass.
It also owns half of Mexico's Grupo Modelo, which makes Corona, and 27 per cent of China's Tsingtao brewery.
Should Coopers' contract brewing talks with the global giant be successful, the Regency Park brewer would be the only SA-based contract brewer, joining Australian rivals Lion Nathan and Foster's in making premium global brands for Anheuser-Busch InBev.
Foster's makes Stella Artois in Melbourne and Lion Nathan brews Beck's in Sydney.
`King of beers' goes down well
TASTERS are united behind Coopers' push to brew Budweiser in Adelaide, saying the lighter, fresher beer is a perfect addition to the famed label. The "king of beers" was given a unanimous thumbs up in a blind tasting test at Sellicks Beach's Victory Hotel yesterday.
Paul Torkington, 31, said Coopers Premium Lager was a heavier, "more Australian" tasting beer, but the leading U.S. Budweiser brew was smooth, easy to drink and perfect for hot summer days.
"It's the kind of beer you could buy a carton of and take to a party and have a good night with," he said.
"The Coopers is nice, but it's a bit heavier and stronger tasting and you couldn't have too many in a row."
Elena Carnevale, 28, said that more women would like the smooth, sweeter brew.
"It's a taste that will appeal to girls," she said. "It's light and nice to drink.
"I think it's great that Coopers is going to be making it. It grows the brand and that's good for employment and keeping jobs in South Australia."
"As a girl and not really a beer drinker, I like it," Sarah Burton said. "But I think Coopers does have to be careful about changing too much.
"I think it should stay South Australian."
Managing director Tim Cooper said no concrete deal had been signed with Budweiser brand owner Anheuser-Busch InBev but a key Australian sales threshold would be met mid-year.
"We needed to reach a threshold of more than 500,000 cases ... at the rate we're selling, we could say we would have hit it by mid 2009," Mr Cooper said.
Coopers has distributed Budweiser beer in Australia through its 80 per cent-owned company Premium Beverages since 2002 and in New Zealand since October, 2008.
But Anheuser-Busch's $79 billion takeover by Belgian brewer InBev in November had meant contract brewing talks between both companies had been "like starting all over again".
However, Premium Beverages managing director Bruce Siney already had begun talks with the new owners and Anheuser-Busch InBev representatives were expected to visit South Australia "shortly", Mr Cooper said. "They represent an enormous proportion of worldwide capacity, one in three beers."
Mr Cooper was hopeful talks would be successful because Australian's thirst for premium and imported beers was strong.
"Australia represents 1-2 per cent of worldwide volume but we're of interest because it's recognised that beer in Australia is a good premium market; returns are reasonable."
Anheuser-Busch InBev describes itself as one of the top five global consumer product companies with 200 beer brands in its portfolio including Budweiser, Stella Artois, Beck's Leffe and Hoegaarden as well as Brazil's Skol and Brahma, Argentina's Quilmes, China's Harbin and Korea's Cass.
It also owns half of Mexico's Grupo Modelo, which makes Corona, and 27 per cent of China's Tsingtao brewery.
Should Coopers' contract brewing talks with the global giant be successful, the Regency Park brewer would be the only SA-based contract brewer, joining Australian rivals Lion Nathan and Foster's in making premium global brands for Anheuser-Busch InBev.
Foster's makes Stella Artois in Melbourne and Lion Nathan brews Beck's in Sydney.
`King of beers' goes down well
TASTERS are united behind Coopers' push to brew Budweiser in Adelaide, saying the lighter, fresher beer is a perfect addition to the famed label. The "king of beers" was given a unanimous thumbs up in a blind tasting test at Sellicks Beach's Victory Hotel yesterday.
Paul Torkington, 31, said Coopers Premium Lager was a heavier, "more Australian" tasting beer, but the leading U.S. Budweiser brew was smooth, easy to drink and perfect for hot summer days.
"It's the kind of beer you could buy a carton of and take to a party and have a good night with," he said.
"The Coopers is nice, but it's a bit heavier and stronger tasting and you couldn't have too many in a row."
Elena Carnevale, 28, said that more women would like the smooth, sweeter brew.
"It's a taste that will appeal to girls," she said. "It's light and nice to drink.
"I think it's great that Coopers is going to be making it. It grows the brand and that's good for employment and keeping jobs in South Australia."
"As a girl and not really a beer drinker, I like it," Sarah Burton said. "But I think Coopers does have to be careful about changing too much.
"I think it should stay South Australian."
