Kollaras partners with Aussie craft brewer

By James Atkinson

Kollaras Trading Company (KTC) has announced a new partnership with the Sydney-based Australian Brewery to distribute its craft beers both nationally and on the export market. 

KTC group general manager Michael Kollaras told TheShout that his company – which supplies almost 95 per cent of Australian cruise shipping channels – had for some time been looking for a craft brewer that could accommodate its customers' needs for both packaged and kegged beers.

“We’ve got some significant opportunities in our cruise ship business for some left of field beers, as well as in our export business to the UK, US, Middle East and places like that,” he said.

But Kollaras said the deal will also be a major boost for Australian Brewery’s products within the domestic market.

“Our footprint in the on-premise and independent retail is far greater than what they’d ever be able to get,” he said.

Kollaras said the two family-owned and operated companies have much in common and he has been very impressed with the quality of the Australian Brewery’s products.

They include a Mexican lager, dark lager, pale ale, pilsner, steam ale, fresh press cider and seasonal beers. In packaged format they are released in cans.

“With the full range of products and the added benefit of innovative packaging there was no question in entering the partnership with Australian Brewery,” Kollaras said.