E-Malt.com News article: Australia: Coopers Brewery planning to double beer exports to the US this financial year

Australia’s Coopers Brewery plans to double its beer exports to 240,000 cases to the United States this financial year after seeing a strong thirst for craft beers, Adelaide Now reported on November, 4.

Coopers marketing director Glenn Cooper, said two expatriates were now promoting the brewer's beers in the east and west coasts of the US - Terry Miniken ahd Michael Cameron, working through US importer Preiss.

"The arrangements mean that Coopers effectively has two people on the ground working to develop the Coopers brand in the US, in conjunction with Preiss," Mr Cooper said.

"We see this as a great opportunity for us and one that will enable Coopers to make strong inroads into the craft beer market, the fastest growing sector of the alcohol market in America."

The brewer's exports are about 3 per cent of total sales, or $1.8 million on last year's turnover of $161 million.

The company anticipates that to rise to 8 per cent by 2014.

"In the next 12 months, we are looking to increase sales in the US by another 140,000 cases a year," he said.

Mr Miniken, who has worked in the US for Coopers for the past 12 months, said there was a lot of interest in Coopers Pale Ale, Coopers Sparkling Ale, Coopers Stout and Coopers Vintage Ale across America.

"The Americans particularly like the fact that Coopers is still family owned after five generations, they enjoy the prominent kangaroo on the bottles neck label and they love the fact that the beers are made without preservatives or additives," he said.

"The craft beer market is the fastest growing sector in the American alcohol market and Coopers positions itself well in this sector."

Mr Cooper said the American craft beer market was enormous.

"By concentrating on the craft sector, we are confident we can achieve strong growth, making the US a valuable contributor to Coopers overall sales," he said.


04 November, 2009