Not all small brewers have joined in the outpouring of anger at the ACCC's finding that tap contracts do not substantially lessen competition. Contracts or not, it's up to small brewers to create a market for their beer, commented Black Hops ... Read more →
ACCC
ACCC explains contract decision in diverse market
The ACCC has explained its findings on tap contracts saying its investigations had revealed a “very mixed picture” in the beer market. ACCC Deputy Chair Michael Schaper told Brews News that at one extreme there is a number of small brewers saying ... Read more →
Contracts "unlikely to substantially lessen competition": ACCC
After a three-year investigation, Australia’s competition watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has found that tap contracts in the brewing industry are not anti-competitive. The ACCC conducted the investigation into the ... Read more →
Tap contracts reform is no silver bullet
This article by Matt Kirkegaard was first posted on February 12, 2015. We thought it was worthy of a repost, amid continued debate over tap contracts following last week's news of a possible class action against the major brewers. [JA] Choice, ... Read more →
Class action brewing on tap contracts
A Melbourne law firm is rallying small brewers to pursue a group claim against CUB and Lion, alleging their tap contracts with venues are in breach of competition law. The case is being prepared by David Burstyner of Adley Burstyner, a group claim ... Read more →
Tap contracts probe ongoing: ACCC
The ACCC looks to have been overly optimistic in its July assurance that the long-running draught beer contracts investigation would be completed this year. The investigation began in 2014. An ACCC spokesperson this week declined to update the ... Read more →
ACCC explains tap contracts delay
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s investigation into tap contracts will be concluded by the end of this year, deputy chair Dr Michael Schaper has confirmed. Dr Schaper was responding to a question from Endeavour Vintage Beer’s ... Read more →
Cash for taps necessary: Coopers
Tap contracts will remain a necessity for Coopers Premium Beverages unless they are deemed anti-competitive by the ACCC, a scenario general manager Mark Goulmy would welcome, but isn’t counting on. The boss of Coopers' distribution arm told a ... Read more →
Green light for Megabrew ‘unsurprising’
There was never going to be any fundamental issue with AB InBev’s takeover of SABMiller in the Australian market, competition lawyer John Kettle reaffirmed as the ACCC gave its blessing to the beer merger. The McCullough Robertson partner today ... Read more →
ACCC twice delays Megabrew ruling
Australia’s competition watchdog has for the second time delayed its decision on Anheuser-Busch InBev’s proposed takeover of SABMiller. An initial decision date of April 14 was last week postponed to April 21, only for the ACCC to yesterday ... Read more →