Close×

In a move to wrestle the term 'craft beer' back from the big players, the Independent Brewers Association (IBA) is launching a new seal to promote awareness of locally owned and produced beer.

The IBA deems only small and independent brewers as being able to make craft beer.

However, with the explosion of craft beer, bigger, brewing companies have jumped on the bandwagon, marketing various beer products as craft beer when in fact they have been mass-produced.

The IBA hopes that its new independence seal will combat this.

Launching in Melbourne on 9 May, the seal will used on beer packaging, tap points, and marketing material.

The aim for the seal is that it will help consumers identify what beers are Australian owned and produced, and help shift consumer demand away from industrialised beer and towards independently owned products.

At present, 50 per cent of the country's craft brewers are a part of the IBA.

All members are eligible to use the seal by entering into a license agreement through the IBA website.

Food & Drink Business

Treasury Wine Estates is restructuring into four regional divisions and reshuffling its executive team as Penfolds depletions surge in China and the US business returns to growth.

Specialist contract processing winery, Winemasters SA, has gone into administration after the site failed to sell. Hall Chadwick partners, Brent Kijurina and David Trim, have been appointed administrators.

George Weston Foods' (GWF) new Mauri flour mill in Ballarat is nearing completion after three years of construction, with the facility expected to be operational by the end of 2026. The Victorian government is supporting the project, which was initially announced in 2022, under its $150 million Victorian Investment Fund.