The Australian distributorship for Australia’s most popular imported Japanese beer has been lost by Foster’s. The Japanese Asahi Group has appointed its own Australian subsidiary company Independent Distillers to market and distribute Asahi beer through the premium beverages division of Independent Distillers.

As reported by Australian Food News in late 2011, Foster’s was taken over by South African beer giant SABMiller and subsequently also lost Australian distribution rights for another international brand Stella Artois to competitor Lion. Now a similar story for Fosters has occurred with Asahi.

On the other hand, from January 2012, the SABMiller group has added global brands such as Peroni, Grolsch, Miller and Pilsner Urquell to the Foster’s portfolio to broaden its Australian distribution channel.

Independent Distillers manufactures and distributes alcoholic beverages to export markets worldwide and is well-known for its Ready To Drink (RTD) alcoholic beverages such as Woodstock. Independent Distillers has expanded into beer brands, first of all with Kingfisher beer, and Asahi Super Dry will follow.

Asahi Super Dry is set to be launched by Independent Distillers at the beginning of April 2012.

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