Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) has come out on top as the rights to some of Australia's most popular beer brands change hands.
The changes are part of a major global reshuffle that has followed Anheuser-Busch InBev's merger with SAB Miller last year.
In Australia, Lion Nathan has had to surrender import beer labels Corona and Stella Artois to CUB as a result of the merger, which has in turn lifted its share of the local packaged beer market to an estimated 47 per cent.
Lion Nathan could receive as much as $300 million following negotiations, according to a Fairfax Media report.
IBISWorld senior industry analyst Andrew Ledovskikh said CUB would now have the edge in a competitive industry.
A significant decline in per capita beer consumption is the main cause of falling industry revenue, with consumption forecast to decline at an annualised 0.7% over the next five years.
“The growing popularity of cider, one of the main beer substitutes, is also expected to weaken demand for beer over the next five years,” Ledovskikh said.
A growing health consciousness has driven the shift away from beer and RTDs, with many consumers substituting wine or cider due to their association with moderate drinking habits.
“Craft beer is expected to continue growing strongly and increase its proportion of total industry revenue,” Ledovskikh said.
“However, the segment is too small as a share of the overall industry to reverse declines in demand for traditional beer.”
