By Ian Neubauer
South Australian brewer Coopers has begun exporting beer products to Sweden and Vietnam.
The brewer dispatched its first consignment of four containers of stout beer to Sweden this month after winning a quota to supply beer to the Swedish government.
“In Sweden, the government regulates the sale and distribution of all alcohol and exporters need quotas before they can send product to that country,” said Coopers chairman, Glenn Cooper.
“The Swedish government recently tendered for the supply of stout and we were successful in obtaining a quota,” he said, adding that Coopers already distributes beer directly into Finland, Norway, Belgium and Germany.
Coopers’ first direct consignment to Vietnam left Adelaide at the same time and is scheduled to dock in the Southeast Asian nation toward the end of the month. The consignment consists of Pale Ale, Sparkling Ale and stout. Coopers beer has previously been available in Vietnam but was handled through third party agents in Singapore and Malaysia.
Exports accounted for 3 per cent of Coopers total sales for the 2006-07 fiscal year.