By James Atkinson
Coopers Brewery will soon begin importing an as yet unnamed cider brand to Australia, with the brewer also set to expand its Thomas Cooper's Selection range of craft beers.
Chairman and cider sceptic Glenn Cooper has finally caved in to internal lobbying to get a cider on the market, Coopers Premium Beverages national sales manager Paul Esposito revealed in an ALSA supplier panel session yesterday.
Esposito told retailers the imported cider brand will be launched in a matter of weeks.
At the ALSA Expo & Trade Day, Coopers also foreshadowed the upcoming addition of a new lager to the Thomas Cooper's Selection range of craft beers, following strong consumer uptake of the existing Celebration Ale.
Coopers recently announced its beer sales in the 2012-13 financial year had risen 8.3 per cent to a record 69.7 million litres, giving the brewer a 4.5 per cent share of the total Australian beer market.