Australia & Brazil: Coopers Brewery begins exports to Brazil

South Australian-based Coopers Brewery has broken into the Brazilian market. The first shipment of Coopers Pale Ale, Coopers Sparkling Ale and Coopers Stout has left Australia bound for Brazil, one of Latin America’s highest beer consuming nations, the company announced August 28.

Coopers Chairman and Marketing Director, Mr Glenn Cooper, said the company had been working closely with specialist beer importer Uniland to develop a strategy to break into Brazil’s growing beer market.

“Brazil is certainly an exciting frontier for Coopers to be exploring,” Mr Cooper said. “Beer sales in the country have steadily increased over the past few years, and recent changes to legislation have opened the market for outside brewers.” Brazil has a population of around 186 million people, with an estimated three million reaching adulthood each year.

Mr Cooper said that the Brazilian market was dominated by the local AmBev brewery, the fifth largest brewer in the world. However, Uniland would be marketing Coopers beers to outlets that specialised in premium imported beers.

The move to follows Coopers successful venture into Chile in 2004. “We have been extremely pleased with the response Coopers has received in Chile, “ Mr Cooper said.

“Our distributor in Chile, Jumbo Supermarkets, also has stores in Argentina, are we are in negotiations with them about offering our beers in that country as well.”

Coopers other exports markets for its bottled beers are in the UK, USA, Europe and Asia.

Coopers Brewery’s history spans from its’ origins in 1862 to the present day. Through the decades the brewery has seen many changes and has grown from strength to strength.

Today Coopers is Australia's sole remaining family owned brewery of stature, so it's still an every day occurrence to meet a Cooper at Coopers Brewery. Dr Tim Cooper is the Managing Director of Coopers Brewery and still keeps a keen eye on the brewing. Mr Glenn Cooper is Executive Chairman and Marketing Director. Mr Bill Cooper remains on the Coopers board of directors, having retired from the position of Managing Director in February 2002. Maxwell Cooper retired from his chairman’s position at the same time. Melanie Cooper and Matthew Cooper also work at the Brewery in Financial and Sales positions. Many other family members also keep an eye on things from the boardroom.

E-malt.com, the global information source for the brewing and malting industry professionals. The bi-weekly E-malt.com Newsletters feature latest industry news, statistics in graphs and tables, world barley and malt prices, and other relevant information. Click here to get full access to E-malt.com. If you are a Castle Malting client, you can get free access to E-malt.com website and publications. Contact us for more information at marketing@castlemalting.com .