This Month
Ex-Macquarie banker who banked on premium gin hits payday
George Georgiadis left finance to build a gin business with two mates eight years ago. They’ve hit payday with a buyout by Asahi.
- Simon Evans
Sydney brewery raises capital, inks deal with finals favourite Swans
Charge your glass for White Bay Brewery! It’s got private equity, it’s got Merivale, and now it’s got AFL finals favourite Sydney Swans drinking from its taps.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
April
The godfather of Australian beer, Chuck Hahn, is not done yet
Anyone who has ever tried a Hahn, James Squire, Kosciuszko, Malt Shovel or Lord Howe Island-branded beer has directly sampled the brewmaster’s handiwork.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
Mighty Craft in last ditch sell-off to get debt burden under control
The ASX-listed group, which owns a big stake in Better Beer, has sold Mismatch Brewing and the 78 Degrees spirits business to a consortium of publicans.
- Simon Evans
March
Small beer! Sydney Beer Co upsizes fund-raising target
Sydney Beer Co. is not looking to conquer the world, but it is looking to move on a big market in the United States, with a planned fund-raising round there, and in Australia.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
February
Rate cuts on ice | Stocks fly after big profits | Why beer is so expensive
This week James and Anthony dissect the RBA’s historic moment, tell you what to expect from reporting season and try to answer a crucial question for the nation: why beer is so expensive.
January
- Drinks With Max Allen
- Life & Leisure
Try these wine ‘discoveries’ to share with friends
A dozen stories about all things alcoholic – and not – to keep you current and content.
- Max Allen
Better Beer capital raise on ice until Mighty Craft woes sorted
Comedians The Inspired Unemployed hold 42 per cent in the fast-growing beer group whose fortunes are poles apart from its ailing large shareholder.
- Simon Evans
November 2023
- Exclusive
- Tax minimisation
Coca-Cola fights ATO over $170m in offshore tax
The Tax Office alleges the beverage company’s profits were diverted offshore via favourable deals with its local affiliate for branding, trademarks and formulas.
- Max Mason
- Exclusive
- Retail
Mountain Culture offers investors a taste of craft beer
The Katoomba brewer of Status Quo Pale Ale and Cult IPA has appointed Morgan Shaw Advisory to help with its first outside fundraising.
- Carrie LaFrenz
Coopers Brewery predicts beer market to stay flat
Beer company boss Tim Cooper said the ferocity of the public stoush at Endeavour Group, owner of Dan Murphy’s and BWS, was “surprising”.
- Simon Evans
October 2023
Konvoy Kegs raises $13m, expects more brewers to go bust
The keg company rents out 280,000 kegs to 600 beer groups in Australasia and is stepping up expansion in the UK and Ireland.
- Simon Evans
September 2023
Blackmores to expand from vitamins into health foods by 2025
The Japanese group Kirin acquired the ASX-listed company for $1.9 billion earlier this year, and told shareholders it has plans to launch the new range by 2025.
- Simon Evans
‘Ridiculously profitable’: Why Aussie beer is so expensive
The brewers of VB, Carlton Draught, XXXX and Tooheys are earning extraordinary profit margins, drawing the attention of a competition inquiry.
- John Kehoe
July 2023
Coopers beer boss says Endeavour, Coles cutting back his shelf space
Pub acquisitions by Endeavour Group, owner of Dan Murphy’s and BWS liquor chains, are adding to headaches for the brewer.
- Simon Evans
- Exclusive
- Wine & spirits
Four Pillars Gin sold to XXXX’s Japanese owner
The brewing giant behind names such as XXXX, Furphy and Little Creatures has snapped up the other half of the distiller for an estimated $50 million.
- Updated
- Carrie LaFrenz
$1.5b United Malt bid sticks, surviving earlier profit warning
A French-based maker of the key ingredient in beer is looking to expand its presence with the proposed acquisition.
- Updated
- Liam Walsh
June 2023
CEO exits at Australia’s largest beer company
Robert Iervasi has called last drinks as boss of Asahi Beverages, overseeing brands such as Victoria Bitter and Carlton Draught.
- Simon Evans
May 2023
- Exclusive
- New Zealand
Toohey’s parent Lion joins Treasury in slashing jobs
The name behind Toohey’s, Little Creatures Brewing and XXXX beer brands is reducing jobs following a review of the business.
- Carrie LaFrenz
United Malt says ‘blast from the past’ beers are back
Mark Palmquist said the speciality malt mix required by customers in some of United Malt’s biggest markets was “changing in front of our eyes”.
- Brad Thompson