NEWS
Lion launches limited edition Origin cans As the official beer of the NSW Blues and the QLD Maroons, Tooheys NEW and XXXX are leveraging state pride and bringing it to life in-store throughout the State of Origin series. With just under 10 million viewers tuning into the 2018 series, Origin provides three of the four biggest TV events of the year*, and that translates to three big reasons to catch up for a beer. It’s the passion for your state that drives the success of Origin, with 90 per cent of Origin supporters avidly supporting one of the teams**. At Origin time, nothing unites Queenslanders quite like their shared love of the Maroons and after 29 years as the official beer of the sunshine state’s favourite team, XXXX is proud to launch its 2019 Origin campaign. To show its support for the Maroons, Queensland’s number one beer***, XXXX Gold, is showing its true colours, turning its iconic Gold cans and stubbies ‘NOTHING BUT MAROON’. With a campaign across OOH, radio, digital, and TV reaching more than 80 per cent of QLD Males 18-64, XXXX will be a key foot traffic driver, painting stores ‘NOTHING BUT MAROON’ this Origin period. As NSW’s favourite beer**, Tooheys New is also once again supporting the NSW Blues. Following the Blues’ Origin win in 2018, there are a lot of supporters who won’t be content with a one-off NSW win. This year Tooheys NEW will feature six of the Blues’ best with their pledges on how they can go back-to-back to ‘CEMENT THE NEW ERA’. Featuring Blues stars past and present, and the new limited edition cans, everything is designed to drive shoppers in-store to pick up a Tooheys New and show their support for the Blues. So while the teams will be doing their job on the field, as NSW and QLD’s favourite beers, Tooheys New and XXXX are the perfect match to whip up support for our boys in-store. *Nielsen TV Ratings **Nielsen Sports SportsLink Australia 18+ (Jan-Jul) 2018. ***IRiMarketedge, MAT April 2019
L-R: Peter Gordon (Grand Master) Griselda Gordon, Ian Atherton, Beth Atherton and Peter Prentice (Chairman)
Ian Atherton inducted as a Keeper of the Quaich Ian Atherton, the CEO of Spirits Platform, was inducted into the Keepers of the Quaich Scotch Whisky Society along with 45 other new members at a private ceremony held at Blair Castle last month. Keepers of the Quaich was established by the Scotch whisky industry to recognise the outstanding commitment of those who produce or promote whisky. Atherton, who has been in the whisky and spirits industry for more than 30 years began his career in the 1980s selling both Scotch and Australian whisky for Gilbeys before he moved across to Suntory selling Japanese whisky. In 2016, he joined Spirits Platform as CEO, which distributes a great range of whiskies including The Macallan, including The Macallan, Highland Park, Bruichladdich, Naked Grouse and Glenrothes. Atherton said that it is an honour to be inducted as a Keeper of the Quaich in recognition of his 30 years promoting Scotch whisky in Australia. “Being part of a unique society of likeminded people, it gives me great pleasure to be in a position to bring the brands to life and recognise all the passion that each of the distilleries pour into producing the world’s best whisky,” he said. To date, just over 2700 men and women from more than 100 countries have been inducted as a Keeper of the Quaich. Together, with the select few that are subsequently distinguished as Master of the Quaich, they represent thousands of years of shared experience and knowledge.
IBA releases Beer Recall Plan The Independent Brewers Association (IBA) has released its Beer Recall Plan, which has been designed to help independent brewers understand the regulatory requirements of having a written recall plan in place. A recall plan is a written document specific to each business which are designed to ensure businesses are prepared to recall unsafe products quickly and at any time to help protect the health and safety of consumers. The IBA said: “We’ve created the IBA Beer Recall Plan and Beer Recall Information Pack to make it easier for [our members] to understand and meet these requirements, and to help them prepare their business for the event of a recall. “Beer may be recalled for a variety of reasons due to issues with packaging or with the beer itself. The IBA is working on a variety of initiatives to assist you in minimising the risk of these issues arising.” The IBA’s recall plan comprises a pack with background information and a brief summary of recall requirements. It also identifies the key areas that brewers need to address in their plan, which contains steps, checklists and templates of what to do in the event of a recall. Full details on the recall plan are available through the Independent Brewers Association website.
12 | JUNE 2019 NATIONAL LIQUOR NEWS