Australia’s largest brewers are apparently feeling pressure from smaller breweries as a current supply agreement comes to light in which Lion excludes Stone & Wood from uncontracted taps.
tap contracts
Editorial: If that’s competition, it doesn’t pass the pub test
When a business, many orders of magnitude larger than another, uses its advantages not to compete but to exclude an emerging competitor there either is a problem with competition law or with the competition regulator.
Publicans weigh up contract debate
Publicans are moving towards independent in addition to mainstream beer, so we spoke to two publicans about how the balance works for them.
Brews News Week #277 Take Three
This week on the podcast, the team overcome some recording difficulties to bring you the news of the week including the latest on tap contracts and the best and worst of can label designs.
Tap contracts will be difficult to change say publicans
Venues are as diverse as beer choices, and so are their tap contracts. We spoke to two industry professionals about the dangers of choice and how big brewers are attempting to combat the threat of craft.
Law change revives tap contract debate
Tap contract controversy was reignited following the ACCC’s approval of CUB-Asahi deal last month, so we spoke to UNSW professor Rob Nicholls about the changed competition landscape and what this might mean if the IBA decides to take up the gauntlet.
Opinion divided on ACCC inaction
Not all small brewers have joined in the outpouring of anger at the ACCC’s finding tap contracts do not substantially lessen competition.
ACCC explains contract decision in diverse market
ACCC Deputy Chair Michael Schaper spoke with Brews News to explain the ACCC’s decision that a court was unlikely to find that tap contracts amounted to a substantial lessening of competition…
Tap contracts reform is no silver bullet
Repost: With tap contracts once again in the news, we revisit this 2015 article exploring some of the arguments in favour of contracting arrangements.
Cash for taps necessary: Coopers
Tap contracts will remain a necessity for Coopers Premium Beverages until such time as they are deemed anti-competitive by the ACCC, a scenario general manager Mark Goulmy would welcome, but isn’t counting on.