Independent brewery, Better Beer, has appointed former Stone & Wood CFO, Chris Pensabene, as its new chief financial officer – following the milestone achievement of selling 100 million cans.
“I’m thrilled to join Better Beer at such an exciting stage of its journey. The brand has achieved remarkable momentum in a short time, and I’m looking forward to helping guide the next chapter,” said Pensabene.
Since launching four years ago, Better Beer has established itself as one of Australia’s fastest-growing independent beer brands, recording over $95 million in retail sales in the past year.
The company has distribution with over 7600 retailers across the country and has sold 12 million litres across its portfolio in the past year – a bright spot in a competitive beer market, which has seen over 50 breweries enter voluntary administration from January 2023-2025.
Better Beer stated its success has been driven by sustained consumer demand for lower-carb, lower-sugar options and a distinctive marketing approach that connects directly with its audience.
With volumes forecast to grow by more than 20 per cent in FY26, the company is on track to exceed 14 million litres in annual sales and reach its 20 million litre target in the coming years.
Better Beer co-founder and CEO, Nick Cogger, said the milestone highlights the brand’s continued momentum and its long-term potential in both domestic and international markets.
“When we first launched, there were plenty of people who thought Better Beer was a ‘flash-in-the-pan’ brand, but we’ve proven them wrong,” said Cogger.
“Reaching the 100-million can milestone in under four years is a huge achievement and a real testament to the hard work and passion of our team. It shows just how much consumers have embraced Better Beer and the shift towards better-for-you options.
“We’re proud of what we’ve built so far, but this is really just the beginning. We see plenty of room for growth here in Australia, across New Zealand, and beyond,” he said.
The brand’s next phase of expansion is supported by Casella Family Brands, which took over distribution of the brand’s Australian portfolio in December 2024.
