March 2008 Cover Story

Pacific Beverages, a joint venture of Coca-Cola Amatil and SABMiller, one of the world’s leading brewers, is to build a $120 million boutique premium brewery at Warnervale.

The announcement by Terry Davis, Group Managing Director of CCA and chairman of Pacific Beverages and the NSW Premier, Morris Iemma was made at the Bluetongue Stadium in early February.
The brewery announcement follows Pacific Beverages’ acquisition, last December of the Hunter-based premium beer brands, Bluetongue and Bondi Blonde from majority Bluetongue shareholder John Singleton, and is the next step in developing the company’s premium beer strategy.
To be called Bluetongue Brewery, the new facility will replace the present Bluetongue Brewery at Cameron Park just north of Warnervale and which has been home to the Bluetongue brand since launching in 2003.
Mr Davis said, “This state-of-the-art facility, which will be located at the entrance to the Warnervale Industrial Park on Sparkes Road, will bring great brewing technology and expertise to our Australian market.”
“Our aim is not only to build a great facility which will brew premium beer brands for the Australian and overseas markets, but we also aim to deliver world’s best practice in water and energy efficiencies,” he said
One unique aspect of the new brewery is that Pacific Beverages plan to make it
a significant tourist attraction in its own right, attracting people who want to see how Australian premium beer is brewed.
“I want to thank the Premier, Morris Iemma, the Department of State and Regional Development and the Wyong Council for their assistance and support for this project. The professionalism, co-operation and efficiency at all levels has been excellent,” Mr Davis said.
Commenting on the announcement John Singleton, who is retained on Bluetongue’s marketing board, said Bluetongue was an integral part of the Central Coast and Hunter region. “The decision to keep Bluetongue in the local area is proof that Terry Davis and his team understand that Bluetongue can stay true to its heritage, whilst growing into a truly national Australian beer. I am excited at the prospect of what we can all do together,” he said.
The brewery, with a capacity of 50 million litres (500,000 hectolitres) is expected to be completed in 2010.
It will deliver significant employment and economic stimulus to the Hunter and Central Coast regions employing 100-120 full time equivalent roles in manufacturing, technical and trades and a large number of positions in sales and distribution ongoing.
About 250 people will be employed on the construction which is expected to commence in October 2008. On this basis the issue of requests for tenders would be in about August a spokesperson for Coca-Cola Amatil said.

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