E-Malt.com News article: Australia & USA: Australia’s Coopers Brewery buys the largest homebrew brand in the US

Australia's largest locally-owned brewer, Coopers Brewery, has burst into the American home brew market after buying the largest home brew brand in the United States, Mr Beer, in a move that could consolidate Coopers at the top of the global home brew market, The Sydney Morning Herald reported on April, 24.

Coopers, a South Australian-based brewer that is this year celebrating 150 years in business, will become the biggest home brewer in North America following the deal.

Based in Tucson, Arizona, Mr Beer distributes home brew starter kits, concentrates and accessories to more than 14,000 stores across America as well as to consumers directly via strong on-line sales.

Coopers, which has a 4 per cent slice of the Australian beer market, is already the world's largest producer of home brew concentrates and has its own range of DIY beer kits and accessories which it distributes to more than 20 countries.

The purchase of Mr Beer means Coopers will also become the largest home brew beer supplier in the USA. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Coopers Marketing Manager Brewing Products, Scott Harris, said the multi-million dollar purchase was the first major international acquisition by Coopers in nearly 30 years and a significant milestone in Coopers' 150th anniversary year.

It is expected to be profitable immediately and will open new opportunities for Coopers in the American market.

Mr Harris said the Mr Beer brand would be retained, along with its existing two US gallon (8 litre) micro brew kits.

"The potential home brew market in the USA is huge. In 2011, Mr Beer sold more than 200,000 home brew starter kits and there are no signs of that demand waning. In the past 10 years demand has been increasing by about 10 per cent a year."


25 April, 2012