Carlton & United Breweries, Australia’s leading brewer, has expanded its business with Linfox, by awarding Linfox subsidiary BevChain a long-term contract for warehousing and metropolitan delivery services at Truganina in Victoria, Rosehill in New South Wales, Heathwood in Queensland, and Abbotsford in Victoria.

BevChain’s appointment will enhance our ability to service our customers across Australia. BevChain, as Australia’s leading alcohol warehousing and delivery company, will improve CUB’s supply chain performance.

Currently, warehousing and delivery services are provided by a range of logistics partners; this move will consolidate CUB’s supply chain.

“CUB is pleased to announce that Linfox subsidiary BevChain has been appointed as our warehousing and metropolitan delivery services partner. This agreement extends our relationship to more than 50 years,” said Jan Craps, CEO Carlton & United Breweries.

“BevChain are the leaders in beverage supply chain solutions, and CUB is excited to be partnering with them to support our supply chain and ensure that we’re delivering the freshest beer to Australians, wherever they might be.”

BevChain are the leaders in beverage supply chain solutions calling on 25,000 delivery points nationally.

Linfox CEO, Mark Mazurek said, “Although Linfox was the incumbent in Victoria and New South Wales, we took the decision that this would be a BevChain solution, and we’re delighted that CUB have recognised the benefit of the specialist beverage solution put forward by the BevChain team.

“This has been a fantastic opportunity to back our investment in BevChain and it’s consistent with our strategy to match our specialist industry expertise with our customers’ market requirements.

“It’s a great news story for our business, and gives us tremendous encouragement that we’re doing the right things, and doing them well.”

Bob Kennedy, Executive General Manager, BevChain, noted, “CUB and Linfox have a deep history extending back to 1968, so we appreciate the importance of the relationship to the group, and we’re excited about taking up the mantel.”

CUB will not sell or lease any Cascade land to the Mount Wellington Cableway Company (MWCC) for its proposed cable car on kunanyi / Mount Wellington.

CUB’s decision follows discussions with the MWCC and extensive consultations over the past year, including with local residents and various community groups.

The proposal to build a cable car on Mount Wellington is a pivotal decision that will clearly change the mountain and therefore Hobart. We are not satisfied that we, as a company, should be making such a momentous decision on behalf of Tasmanians.

CUB was also not satisfied that the MWCC had been successful in winning broad support from the community for its proposed cable car.

Cascade has operated from the foothills of Mount Wellington for almost two centuries. We have been privileged to share a special relationship with Mount Wellington, Hobart and the local community that have supported us. As a company we have a special responsibility and commitment to both the community and the Mountain.

Cascade has been in the heart of Tasmanians since 1824 because we’ve been a great brewer who has earned the strong and loyal support of Tasmanians. We want to concentrate on doing what we do best – brewing and creating jobs and opportunities for the people of Tasmania.

Melbourne, 16 May 2018. CUB announces new in-house digital agency.

Carlton & United Breweries, Australia’s leading brewer, is proud to announce the launch of Speakeasy Studio, CUB’s new in-house digital agency.

Speakeasy Studio will change the way that CUB connects with consumers. It’ll make sure CUB has the responsiveness and flexibility to connect our brands with our consumers in a more meaningful way.

“We know our consumers are evolving, and the way they engage with brands and each other is changing. Speakeasy Studio will help us keep pace with our consumers and ensure the way our brands go to market evolves too”, said CUB Marketing Director Chris Maxwell.

“We’re excited that our new in-house team will take CUB digital to the next level, with more innovative, engaging and targeted communications.

“We’ve partnered with our media and communications agency PHD to build Speakeasy and embed it into the CUB business. CUB and PHD, with their extensive networks in the industry, will be working together to recruit the talent we need to make our vision a reality.

“Our new Speakeasy Studio team will work on some of Australia’s most iconic brands. We’re combining the scale of Australia’s leading brewer with all the speed, agility and excitement of an agency.”

CUB and PHD are now recruiting for a variety of roles available ranging from social and content to data and technology.

3 May 2018.

Australia’s leading brewer, Carlton & United Breweries, is proud that Queensland’s own beer, Great Northern Super Crisp, will be poured at Suncorp for the State of Origin.

A number of recent media reports have stated that another of our beers, Victoria Bitter, will be served at Suncorp for State of Origin. These reports are incorrect.

Queensland’s own beer, Great Northern Super Crisp, will be at Suncorp, for Queenslanders because it’s made 100% in Queensland by Queenslanders.

— ENDS —

Melbourne, 12 April 2018. Melbourne Bitter is pleased to present ‘Eskybition’; a collaboration with some of Melbourne’s finest illustrative artists to produce a series of hand-painted, classic, Aussie Eskys.

Eskybition will take place at Melbourne’s RVCA Gallery, 82 Stanley St Collingwood VIC, opening Friday, April 13. 

The ‘Eskybition’ group show adopts the concept of upcycling; the process of transforming waste materials, useless, or unwanted products into new products of better quality or for better environmental value.

A bunch of humble, much-loved eskys that have seen better days (sourced from Gumtree, eBay, vintage and charity stores) have been gifted a literal and aesthetic rebirth.

Painstakingly hand painted by the likes of tattoo artist Clare Hampshire, heralded street artist Andy Murphy, screen-printer and illustrator Steve Cohen, and several other exceptional artistic talents, they meld the iconic Esky brand with another homegrown icon: Melbourne Bitter.

Two nostalgic names are updated skillfully and irreverently throughout this diverse and distinctly Melbourne exhibition.

Make your way to RVCA Gallery, enjoy an icy cold Melbourne Bitter and perhaps pick up one of these beauties for yourself at the silent auction. 

All proceeds from sales will be donated to Support Act to assist musicians and artists in crisis.

Further details here.

Melbourne, 20 March 2018

Australia’s leading brewer, Carlton & United Breweries (CUB), is today taking a significant step towards sourcing 100 per cent of its electricity from renewables.

CUB is adopting renewable energy as the way forward with the signing of a 12-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with German renewable energy developer, service provider and wholesaler, BayWa r.e.

BayWa r.e. will provide 74,000 MWh per year of renewable energy, enough to power 7,500 homes, sourced from its solar farm in Mildura, Victoria. CUB’s partnership with BayWa r.e. will create up to 300 jobs through construction and opportunities for long term employment through the solar farm’s ongoing operation and maintenance.

CUB CEO, Jan Craps, said, “This represents an important step in CUB’s commitment to 100 per cent of its electricity being sourced from renewables.

“As one of Australia’s first and leading manufacturing businesses, we have a responsibility to ensure we play our part in tackling climate change and a range of environmental challenges.”

CUB is also moving towards onsite solar generation, which will see solar panels on the roofs at each of our breweries.

CUB is absolutely committed to delivering on an ambitious environmental and sustainability agenda. Already our Yatala brewery is a world leader in water efficiency, and the move to 100 per cent renewable electricity solidifies our sustainability commitment.

Mr Craps said the company is reducing its environmental footprint while also gaining access to reliable and affordable power:

“Beyond our driving commitment to reduce our emissions, the investment also stacks up when you look at the reduced price we will pay to power our operations. Moving to renewable energy will ensure that we have certainty of supply and pricing, something that is incredibly important for a manufacturing business like ours.”

Sites will remain connected to the grid, allowing excess capacity to be fed back into the system.

Construction of the 112 MW solar farm is underway and BayWa r.e. has already self-financed and constructed the 4km grid connection. It will be built by Melbourne-based Beon Energy Solutions.

Matthias Taft, Board Member of BayWa AG with responsibility for the energy business, commented:

“BayWa r.e. is delighted to be helping CUB to achieve its renewable energy goals.

“For BayWa r.e., the partnership with CUB represents another success in Australia. Since entering the market, BayWa r.e. is now active in solar and wind project development and the solar installer wholesaler market.”

Hobart, 25 February 2018. Cascade is delighted to announce a major upgrade of its brewery.

Cascade’s upgrade will secure its future and realise Carlton & United Breweries’ vision for Cascade and Tasmania to become our craft brewing hub for the Asia Pacific region.

CUB is making a $10.3 million capital investment to significantly increase Cascade’s brewing capability and launch Cascade as one of Australia’s leading craft breweries. The brewing upgrade will result in a 65 per cent increase in production at Cascade.

We are particularly grateful to the Tasmanian Government who has backed our vision for Cascade with a $1 million contribution to this significant upgrade.

Cascade will expand its craft brewing options, including brewing experimental beers for our Australian and Asia Pacific region operations. It will also brew a number of beers from some of the world’s leading craft brands.

The beers brewed at Cascade will be distributed to all Australian states, with some exported to the Asia Pacific region. This is good news for Tasmania’s local economy and jobs.

The expansion will secure Cascade’s existing jobs, while also creating jobs in the construction phase and five new ongoing full-time jobs.

“We are thrilled that Cascade will become CUB’s craft brewing hub for the Asia Pacific region. It is testimony to our long-term confidence in Cascade, Hobart and Tasmania”, said Mr Jan Craps, CEO of CUB.

CUB selected Cascade to lead our growth in craft beer for a number of reasons. “We love Tasmania’s vibrancy and confidence and its world renowned reputation for clean food and drink. We’re also backing our team of experienced brewers at Cascade to take us to the next level. We’re going to build on a heritage that commenced when Cascade first brewed for Tasmanians in 1832,” Mr Craps said.

First female Cascade Brewery Manager

We are also proud to announce today the appointment of Anita Holdsworth as Cascade’s new brewery manager. Anita has been selected to lead Cascade’s upgrade and our craft brewing vision.

Anita is the first female to be Cascade’s brewery manager. “Anita brings to the role a dynamic passionate leadership style, perfectly suited to the challenge and the opportunity of growing Cascade as CUB’s craft hub”, Mr Craps said.

Anita started her career working in medical genetics research, moving then into microbiology and chemistry before transitioning to manufacturing. Anita currently leads a diverse brewing and quality team for CUB in Australia, which includes chemists, microbiologists, packaging and brewing specialists.

“I can’t wait to start on this exciting transformation of Cascade. We’re going to do great things building on Cascade’s heritage”, Ms Holdsworth said.

‘I’m excited to have the opportunity to build more partnerships with local Tasmanian companies and connect with local communities. This starts with using even more great, fresh Tasmanian ingredients in our beers and ciders. ”