Media Release

Coopers Maintains Growth Momentum

Coopers Brewery enjoyed record beer sales for the 2013 calendar year, surging through the 70 million litre mark for the first time in the company’s history.

Managing Director, Dr Tim Cooper, said total beer sales in 2013 reached 72 million litres, an increase of 4.7% on the 68.8 million litres sold in calendar year 2012.

“December 2013 was our highest selling month on record, with 8.55 million litres of beer sold. This was 13% more than the previous record month in December 2012,” he said.

“During December, we also enjoyed record sales of Coopers Original Pale Ale (almost 400,000 cases) and Coopers Sparking Ale (100,000 cases).

“A significant portion of our growth for 2013 can be attributed to our international beer portfolio, as well as good growth from the mid-strength Coopers Mild Ale. Strong sales in Pale Ale and Sparkling Ale also drove the volume increase.”

Coopers brews Carlsberg and Sapporo under contract and also distributes Mythos and Kronenbourg 1664 through its distribution company Coopers Premium Beverages.

Dr Cooper said the ongoing growth at a time when total beer consumption in Australia was falling was pleasing.

“Coopers has enjoyed average growth of more than 9.8% per year for the past 20 years and now represents more than 4.5% of the total Australian beer market,” he said.

“The second bottling line, opened in December, will provide greater flexibility and efficiencies, and set ourselves for further growth.”

For the six months to December 31 2013, Coopers’ sales grew by 6.3% over the previous corresponding period. International brands increased in volume by 157%, and Mild Ale by 25%.

The biggest increase in sales came from Victoria, up 15.4%, then Queensland, up 12.1%, and then Western Australia, up 9.4%, while beer exports increased 23.1%.

South Australia remains Coopers’ largest market, representing 26.9% of sales, just ahead of NSW at 26.0%. Exports represent 2.4% of sales.