Asahi Beverages has announced that it will be closing three of its factories located in MacGregor (QLD), Moorebank (NSW) and Payneham (SA). 140 jobs will be affected as production at the sites moves to other manufacturing facilities in the company’s network. The closures come as a result of a number of recent acquisitions and are an attempt to reduce the company’s footprint in Australia. “The Asahi Beverages business has grown ...

Australia Post has partnered with China’s largest online wholesale website, 1688.com as part of an initiative that will help Australian businesses capitalise on the free-trade agreement signed in June. The launch of ‘Australian pavilion’ (auspost.1688.com) will provide a powerful online platform for Australian businesses to sell into China in bulk, reaching more than 100 million registered users and enticing Chinese importers to buy Australian products at more affordable, wholesale prices. Initially, Australia Post ...

Five liquor retail banner groups are set to announce a collective bargaining arrangement that gives them buying power equivalent to one of the country’s top five players. The new entity has a collective footprint of about 400 retail outlets, according to industry sources. It will be known as Pentagon Ventures, a business registered on September 18, according to public records. The banner groups will each maintain their own identity and independence ...

Three years on from its purchase of the historic Beenleigh Distillery in Queensland, Bickford’s Group of Companies including Vok Beverages has completed the $5 million upgrade of Australia’s oldest registered distillery and new visitor centre. The South Australian based, family-owned business has made this upgrade as part of a wider $25 million investment into Queensland and hopes to attract up to 200,000 visitors a year to the site as a result. Dating back to ...

It is now almost two years on since the introduction of lockout laws in Sydney and statistics show that alcohol-fuelled violence has lowered in zones where the legislation is effective, but surged in neighbouring suburbs. The legislation has also resulted in the closure of a number of iconic Sydney venues and a drop in the number of hospitality jobs and club music royalties. Over in other states, licensees are worried about the possible introduction of ...

Kegstar has announced that existing investor Brambles has increased its 30 per cent ownership to acquire 100 per cent of the supply-chain logistics company. Under the new ownership, significant investment will be put behind Kegstar to expand the company into UK, which the company says will open up the opportunity for customers in New Zealand and Australia to export their beer there in Kegstar kegs. Kegstar first launched in December 2012 with 880 kegs, one ...

Tim Rice has been appointed as Head of Wine at BWS, reporting directly to Adam Fry who is Head of Merchandising for the Woolworths Limited owned liquor retail chain. Rice has most recently been with the Dan Murphy’s business as Head of Beer and prior to that Business Manager Wine – Dan Murphy’s. In total, Rice has 19 years worth of experience in buying and operations roles across multiple divisions within ...

A Lidcombe restaurant has had its liquor licence suspended for serving alcohol to minors. Palbok BBQ Pty Ltd, trading as Palbok House, is now the fourth venue in NSW to have had its licence suspended this year. According to the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR), police had observed a group of teenagers in Palbok House’s outdoor dining area consuming soju, a Korean spirit. When the group was asked to provide ID ...

Coopers Brewery released its official statement on the passing of Bill Cooper on Wednesday, 25 November. The former Managing Director of the company sadly passed away two weeks ago on the 11th of November. “Bill will be fondly remembered by all and we are indebted to him for his significant contribution to the history of our company, for keeping the brewery going in difficult years, and for maintaining its independence”, Coopers said in its ...

The Government of Western Australia has extended trading hours in the state. The reforms came into effect last weekend and allow hotels, taverns and small bars to trade until midnight on both Saturday and Sunday and nightclubs through to 2am on the following Monday morning. The WA Government hopes the changes, which form part of the 2015 Red Tape Reduction Report Card, will help to increase revenue and tourism for businesses. “The changes recognise modern community expectations and ...