Coopers Sales Increase Bucks Beer Market Trend

More Australians are raising a Coopers, with sales of the Australian made and owned beer bucking market trends.

Coopers Brewery sold almost 2 million more litres of beer during the past year, despite the national beer market contracting further.

Australia’s largest independent family-owned brewery recorded total beer sales in 2024-25 of 80.6 million litres, up from 78.7 million litres the previous year. The 2.4% rise, excluding sales of non-alcoholic beers and contract-manufactured beer, was in sharp contrast to a 0.9% contraction of the national beer market over the corresponding period.

Coopers Brewery Managing Director Michael Shearer said the result reflected a solid performance right across Coopers’ beer range.

“Demand was particularly strong for Dry 3.5 and Australian Lager, both relative newcomers to our portfolio. Our traditional ale products also continued to grow, at 1.2%, and Stout had a resurgence with a 3.3% increase over the prior year,” he said.

“Importantly, our overall sales momentum has continued into the first months of the new financial year.”

Mr Shearer said drinkers had become more discerning when purchasing due to cost-of-living pressures.

“They want value for money with their beer – that’s about quality, reliability and above all taste,” he said.

“We remain 100% focused on brewing great tasting Australian beer. To achieve another year of solid sales growth in a tough market is a real vote of confidence in our craft and our team. Beer drinkers have greater choice than ever before, so for more to choose a Coopers has been particularly pleasing.”

Keg sales, which represent around 12.4% of total sales of Coopers beer, were 5.9% higher, while packaged beer sales rose 1.8%.

Coopers recorded growth across all states and territories, with South Australia being the largest market in terms of sales volume while Queensland recorded the strongest growth.

• New South Wales up 1.9%

• Queensland up 4.8%

• Victoria/Tasmania up 3.3%

• South Australia up 2.3%

• Northern Territory up 2%

• Western Australia up 0.8%

Beer exports (excluding New Zealand), which represent around 1% of total sales, were down 22.3%, while sales to New Zealand were 2.6% higher.

Sales of malted barley and wheat rose 3.4% despite the challenges experienced by brewers in international markets. DIY brewing product volumes were down 17% reflecting lower consumer demand and tighter supermarket shelf space.

Coopers’ new $70 million visitor centre, restaurant, microbrewery and whisky distillery is attracting visitors from across Australia and overseas. Since this world-class facility was opened to the public on August 28, 2024 approximately 60,000 patrons have visited, 32,000 customers have dined in the restaurant, 10,500 guests have taken tours and 100 businesses and organisations have held corporate lunches and functions.

Whisky is a longer-term proposition with more than 200 full barrels of single malt whisky already maturing in the underground stillage which has capacity for 5,000 barrels (1 million litres).

“The new visitor centre, microbrewery and distillery is a generational investment by Coopers in our long-term future as well as a diversification strategy to open new markets for our product,” Mr Shearer said.

Reflecting this significant investment and its associated interest and depreciation costs, profit-before-tax was $22.5 million, compared with $32.8 million the previous year. As a result, fully franked dividends of $11.25 per share were paid in the financial year, down from $12 paid last year.

Through the generosity of staff and shareholders as well as other fundraising activities, the Coopers Foundation awarded $883,717 to 20 charities in FY2025, taking the total donated to more than $8.75 million since the Foundation was formed in 2006.