By James Atkinson
An unparalleled focus on customers will be key to the success of Coca-Cola Amatil’s new beer and cider venture, according to the company's Australian Beverages managing director, John Murphy, who spoke with TheShout this morning.
Murphy said it had been a big night for CCA personnel who worked around the clock to get the division up and running ahead of the much-anticipated December 17 launch date.
“Seeing draught kegs and beer products and cider products in our warehouses has been two years in the making, so it’s fantastic to see,” he said.
John Murphy (right ) at the recent Blue Moon launch in Sydney
Murphy said CCA had taken its first orders for beer this morning, which include sales to The Star in Sydney and Crown in Melbourne as well as C. inc’s Coogee Bay Hotel, where Coors will be launched this Thursday.
“Product is on its way, so people are busy working and unwrapping and palletising and trucks are moving between facilities and getting customers ready,” he said.
Through its On-Premise Excellence Group (OPEG), Murphy said CCA has remained “obsessed with customers” over the last two years in preparation for its relaunch into beer.
The OPEG initiative started under the Pacific Beverages joint venture and brings CCA personnel together with groups of publicans to work together on growing the on-premise sector for mutual benefit, he said. [continues below]
L-R: Blue Moon founder Keith Vella with CCA's Sherree Retek, Barrie Gibson and Paul Gloster and Molson Coors' Brett Vye and David Coors
Murphy expects the Molson Coors brands will follow a similar growth trajectory to that of Peroni in Australia, but he said CCA is now even better equipped to build the new beer brands after having done it before.
With recent Australian business news headlines dominated by job losses associated with Holden’s exit from Australia and the woes of Qantas, Murphy said CCA’s beer venture is the good news story the country badly needs.
“It’s good news to be forming and growing something and taking this baby to the marketplace,” he said.