Coopers Brewery was named the 2008 Telstra South Australian Business of the Year on Tuesday night, after being selected from the state’s best businesses.

The Regency Park-based brewery also won the Panasonic Australia Medium Business Award, which recognises outstanding businesses with 21 to 200 employees.

Coopers Brewery is Australia’s third largest brewer and the country’s only major family-owned brewery. First established in 1862 by Thomas Cooper, Coopers Brewery is now run by fifth generation descendants from its state-of-the-art brewery at Regency Park.

Today, its rapid interstate expansion has seen the business enjoy its strongest growth period ever, with Coopers Brewery products accounting for approximately 3.3 per cent of the Australian beer market. Coopers Brewery is also the world’s largest manufacturer and exporter of home brew concentrates and one of the largest producers of malt extracts. “This Award recognises Coopers Brewery for its hard work, determination and business success,” Ms Deena Shiff, Group Managing Director of Telstra Business and Telstra Business Awards Ambassador said. “The judges were highly impressed by Coopers Brewery’s customer focus, innovative thinking, company vision and overall business practices. These key areas are the building blocks of Coopers Brewery’s success and make the company a role model for all South Australian businesses.”

On top of the Best Business Award there are five other categories – micro-business, small business, medium business, innovation and social responsibility.

South Australian award winners will now compete against other state and territory winners at the national final in Sydney on Friday 10 October. Overall winners from each state and territory are also in the running to be crowned the 2008 Telstra Australian Business of the Year.

Award winners from other Australian states will be announced in the coming month.

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