Coca-Cola Amatil’s alcohol expansion with Foster’s spirits the next target
Coca-Cola Amatil’s Managing Director Terry Davis has indicated that the company is considering buying the spirits, ready-to-drink mixed spirits and non-alcoholic brands of Australian brewer Foster’s Group Limited.
Mr Davis made the announcement at a meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia, held in Melbourne. The brands in questions include Foster’s Cascade brand of soft drinks, its Cougar and Black Douglas spirit brands, as well as its Fiji brewery and distillery.
However, Coca-Cola Amatil would only be able to purchase the Foster’s assets once UK company SABMiller’s acquisition deal with Foster’s has been completed.
A spokesperson for Coca-Cola Amatil told Australian Food News today, “We can’t do anything yet until the SABMiller / Foster’s deal goes through. When it does, we will do due diligence on the brands we have a right to acquire and make up our minds then.”
SABMiller currently operates in Australia through Pacific Beverages, a joint venture with Coca-Cola Amatil. After the proposed Foster’s acquisition, SABMiller and Coca-Cola Amatil intend to terminate the joint venture so that SABMiller will wholly own both Foster’s and Pacific Beverages.
