Australia: Coopers reportedly tipped to tie up a distribution deal for Carlsberg and Kronenbourg beers

South Australian brewer Coopers is tipped to tie up a distribution deal for the Carlsberg and Kronenbourg beer brands, The Shout reported on March, 23.

The low-volume Carlsberg Group brands are currently distributed by Foster’s, but would appear to be competing in the same market segment as the SABMiller company’s proprietary European imports, Grolsch and Pilsner Urquell, which became part of the Foster’s portfolio in December.

The Danish Carlsberg Group is known to have been shopping the brands around in recent months and its options for distribution are somewhat limited.

Having recently inked the heavyweight Corona deal, Lion’s attentions are clearly elsewhere and a distribution agreement with Carlsberg would not be an attractive option for either party.

Coopers is believed to have expressed an interest in the import brands, which appealingly for Carlsberg, would have the SA brewer’s undivided attention, and would require distribution on a scale Coopers could easily handle.

Last year Coopers began brewing Japanese Sapporo beer at its Regency Park brewery.

In September 2009, Coopers ceased distributing Budweiser through Premium Beverages after a six-year agreement when Anheuser-Busch was taken over by Belgian brewer InBev.

Coopers also distributed Grolsch from late 2007 until May 2008 when the Dutch beer company was taken over by SABMiller.

A Coopers spokesperson declined to comment.

23 March, 2012