Carlton & United Breweries and De Bortoli Wines have been recognised as two of Australia’s most innovative companies.
Published by The Australian Financial Review and Boss Magazine, the Most Innovative Companies List is based on an assessment process that measures a top innovation implemented in the past 12 months, with judges considering how valuable the problem is that the innovation is solving, the quality and uniqueness of the solution, and the level of impact that the innovation has had.
CUB was recognised for the enormous success enjoyed by Carlton Zero, the first non-alcoholic beer in the brewery’s 180-year history.
CUB was named the fourth most innovative manufacturing and consumer goods company in Australia and was the only beer company to make the top 10. Judges commended Carlton Zero for “being a non-alcoholic beer that actually tastes and looks like traditional beer”.
CUB’s Insight & Innovation Director Adam Murphy said: “We are thrilled to have been named one of Australia’s most innovative companies. Judges recognised that Carlton Zero has given beer lovers what they’ve wanted for ages: a non-alcoholic beer that actually tastes like beer.
“Australians are increasingly looking to enjoy beer more responsibly, with non-alcoholic, low and mid-strength beers now accounting for around a quarter of all our beer sales.
“We’re proud to have helped developed a culture of innovation at CUB which has helped drive this positive shift in the community and other leading products.”
De Bortoli was ranked 10th in the list, recognised for its innovation around the development of Rosé Rosé. The wine was created to help drive consumer engagement on a personal level and cut through the fragmented wine market.
Darren De Bortoli, Managing Director of De Bortoli Wines, said that innovation was in the company’s DNA.
“From the label design to the bottle style, wine quality and marketing approach, our Rosé Rosé is a fully integrated vineyard-to-glass innovation that is proving popular among consumers,” said De Bortoli.
“We are thrilled to receive this recognition, which acknowledges how our family has been pushing the boundaries of wine making for more than 90 years to produce wines for everyone to enjoy.”
Dr Amantha Imber Founder of Inventium, the innovation consultancy that conducted the assessment process for the list.said: “We are thrilled to announce the first ever industry specific Most Innovative Companies List.
“What separated the most innovative organisations from the least was the involvement of the customer the entire way through the innovation process. Leading innovators also had strong mechanisms in place to recognise the innovation efforts of their staff.”