Brisbane craft brewer Green Beacon has left the Independent Brewers’ Association (IBA) after its buyout by Japanese giant Asahi.
Green Beacon joins other craft brewers such as Pirate Life, Four Pines, Kosciuszko, and Feral that have sold up to big conglomerates over the past few years. According to Jamie Cook, president of the IBA, the association requires members to leave once they are bought by larger companies.
“The IBA is an organisation to support brewers who don’t have the voice or resources that the big brewers have. One you’re acquired by a large brewer, you have those resources and the advocacy voice, and you don’t need the Association.
“It’s mutually agreed when you join that if you get bought by a big brewer, you’ll leave the Association – that’s about maintaining the integrity of independent beer, and consumers knowing that when they buy from an independent brewer it’s truly independent,” he said.
Cook told Food & Drink Business that only a handful of craft brewers have sold up in the past seven years or so – but for each one sold, 100 have been established.
“That signifies that the large brewers are under pressure, and the small brewers are taking share from them. Craft beer is more attractive from a consumer point of view, so effectively the big brewers are trying to put their finger in the dike. Independent beer continues to grow strongly,” he said.
Separately, the IBA has expressed concerns to the ACCC around Asahi’s proposed $16bn buyout of Carlton and United Breweries (CUB) and its effect on market concentration.
“Asahi weren’t big players in beer, and combined with CUB their market share won’t be much larger than CUB’s is now, but it’s the multi-beverage mix that’s the big concern given Asahi own Schweppes and are strong players in cider.
“The deal could lock smaller brewers out of the market, particularly with reduced access to taps in pubs and clubs,” he said.
