ACCC concerns about craft beer access to pubs
Australia’s corporate regulator has identified the lack of access that the growing number of craft and boutique brewers are getting to the broader beer market in pubs and bars.
Despite the decline in the popularity of beer drinking in Australia – Australian beer consumption is currently at a 65 year low – the craft beer market is flourishing, driven by passionate craft beer makers and home brewers, together with more sophisticated beer drinkers and consumers demanding a more boutique, unique, and premium product.
The craft and boutique market is growing at 15 to 20 per cent a year.
However, the craft beer market has only 5 per cent of the highly concentrated market dominated by SABMiller (VB, Carlton, Pure Blonde, Matilda Bay), Lion Nathan (James Squire, XXXX, Heineken, Corona), and Coopers.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has spent the past few months examining the semi-exclusive tap arrangements in pubs and bars.
ACCC chairman Rod Sims said the issue of exclusivity was a concern.
“We do have concerns that they’re not getting sufficient access to the market, and we’re engaged with the larger brewers on this issue,” Mr Sims told The Australian Financial Review.
by Leon Gettler, 20th June 2016
