West End Brewery

[Booney]

The West End Brewery will close in June next year with its owners, Japanese company Lion, saying a fall in beer consumption meant it was no longer viable.

The company has released a statement saying the brewery, on the banks of the River Torrens at Thebarton, has been operating below capacity for some time.

“This is a sad day for the West End team, Lion and South Australia,’’ the company said in a statement.

“West End has been operating well below its full production capacity for some time now and unfortunately this is no longer viable. We have come to this proposal as the best way to ensure we have a sustainable brewing network for the future.

“The Australian beer market has been in long-term decline for the past decade as Australian drinkers choose other beverages, like wine, over beer. Per capita beer consumption has dropped around 20 per cent in this time.

“Our input costs have continued to rise against this backdrop of declining volume, and a further drop in draught beer sales as a result of the pandemic.’’

The company said the proposal would impact 94 roles in the brewery, however around 40 roles would remain in SA in sales and sponsorship roles.

It said affected employees would have access to a West End Re-Skilling Fund of up to $1 million on top of any potential redundancy payments.

“Around a third of our existing team would remain in South Australia under this proposal across sales and sponsorship roles.

“We acknowledge West End’s 160-year history. We are a proud supporter of sports at all levels – sponsoring many competitions and teams in SA including the SANFL, the Strikers and the Redbacks – and of the pubs and clubs that bring communities together.

“We are committed to doing all we can to see as many of our events and traditions continue and working alongside our customers during this difficult period as they recover from a very challenging year.’’

Earlier this year, West End Brewery was temporarily shut down as its parent company dealt with the ongoing impact of a ransomware attack on June 8.

The incident caused a system outage, which disrupted manufacturing Australia-wide and led to packaged and keg beer shortages.

Last year the company hired its first female brewery manager for the first time in 160 years.

State Labor Leader Peter Malinauskas tweeted he was “devastated” by the closure.

“This is a massive lost to our state,” he said.

[Lightning McQueen]

Coopers will be the big winner as well as the other smaller brewers.

Not sure a West End customer would go to Coopers...

Yep, the only Coopers I've found that I enjoy was a friends home brew, I'm pretty sure it was the lager.

I only really drink WED at the pub, I buy Peroni's or Stella's for home, unless they're both way over-priced and the 30 can block is on special.

[Lightning McQueen]

The West End Brewery will close in June next year with its owners, Japanese company Lion, saying a fall in beer consumption meant it was no longer viable.

The company has released a statement saying the brewery, on the banks of the River Torrens at Thebarton, has been operating below capacity for some time.

“This is a sad day for the West End team, Lion and South Australia,’’ the company said in a statement.

“West End has been operating well below its full production capacity for some time now and unfortunately this is no longer viable. We have come to this proposal as the best way to ensure we have a sustainable brewing network for the future.

“The Australian beer market has been in long-term decline for the past decade as Australian drinkers choose other beverages, like wine, over beer. Per capita beer consumption has dropped around 20 per cent in this time.

“Our input costs have continued to rise against this backdrop of declining volume, and a further drop in draught beer sales as a result of the pandemic.’’

The company said the proposal would impact 94 roles in the brewery, however around 40 roles would remain in SA in sales and sponsorship roles.

It said affected employees would have access to a West End Re-Skilling Fund of up to $1 million on top of any potential redundancy payments.

“Around a third of our existing team would remain in South Australia under this proposal across sales and sponsorship roles.

“We acknowledge West End’s 160-year history. We are a proud supporter of sports at all levels – sponsoring many competitions and teams in SA including the SANFL, the Strikers and the Redbacks – and of the pubs and clubs that bring communities together.

“We are committed to doing all we can to see as many of our events and traditions continue and working alongside our customers during this difficult period as they recover from a very challenging year.’’

Earlier this year, West End Brewery was temporarily shut down as its parent company dealt with the ongoing impact of a ransomware attack on June 8.

The incident caused a system outage, which disrupted manufacturing Australia-wide and led to packaged and keg beer shortages.

Last year the company hired its first female brewery manager for the first time in 160 years.

State Labor Leader Peter Malinauskas tweeted he was “devastated” by the closure.

“This is a massive lost to our state,” he said.

loss*

[Booney]

Coopers will be the big winner as well as the other smaller brewers.

Not sure a West End customer would go to Coopers...

Agreed, I encounter a lot of West End drinkers and the last beer they'd turn to is Coopers or a craft beer. In fact a lot of them have already switched to Great Northern or Superdry if it's cheaper than usual.

Have a word to the boss mate, WTF is this Great Northern as the monthly special, this is bullshit!

[am Bays]

2020, you've officially gone too far!!!!

[youtube]Z0GFRcFm-aY[/youtube]

[Booney]

I think it will still be brewed just interstate. Also only 90 job losses...thought it would be in the hundreds

"Only" 90 families losing their lively hood.

[Booney]

[youtube]Z0GFRcFm-aY[/youtube]

I'd drink West End to avoid listening to this lot.

[Wedgie]

Coopers will be the big winner as well as the other smaller brewers.

Not sure a West End customer would go to Coopers...

Agreed, I encounter a lot of West End drinkers and the last beer they'd turn to is Coopers or a craft beer. In fact a lot of them have already switched to Great Northern or Superdry if it's cheaper than usual.

Have a word to the boss mate, WTF is this Great Northern as the monthly special, this is bullshit!

Drinkers of beer with minimal taste (like WED, Superdry, etc) love it!
We sell heaps even when it isn't on special.
People who actually like beer with taste are in a minority in most western suburbs pubs!

[Lightning McQueen]

Drinkers of beer with minimal taste (like WED, Superdry, etc) love it!
We sell heaps even when it isn't on special.
People who actually like beer with taste are in a minority in most western suburbs pubs!

Say's the bloke that wont have cheese on their pizza

[Booney]

I'm drinking stubbies of Pale at $8 at the moment, I'm not drinking Greg Normans.

[Booney]

[Wedgie]

Drinkers of beer with minimal taste (like WED, Superdry, etc) love it!
We sell heaps even when it isn't on special.
People who actually like beer with taste are in a minority in most western suburbs pubs!

Say's the bloke that wont have cheese on their pizza

Mould ain't my thing.

[Booney]

Mate just sent me :

I should have expected this, I was only thinking the other day how could 2020 get more f*ckeder?

[Spargo]

I'm drinking stubbies of Pale at $8 at the moment, I'm not drinking Greg Normans.

*echoes

[Booney]

Can someone check in on Carey please

I've checked on him, he's heart broken but he's ok.

[Booney]

I'm drinking stubbies of Pale at $8 at the moment, I'm not drinking Greg Normans.

*echoes

Normans

Normans

Normans

[Lightning McQueen]

My unopened 2004 Premiership carton might well be worth something now in years to come.

[MW]

I think it will still be brewed just interstate. Also only 90 job losses...thought it would be in the hundreds

"Only" 90 families losing their lively hood.

Not my point mate, my point was I thought it would be more and glad it wasn't. Take out the word 'only' if you like and makes it better?
I work in manufacturing so trust me I understand what's happening to their families...

[Pseudo]

Drinkers of beer with minimal taste (like WED, Superdry, etc) love it!
We sell heaps even when it isn't on special.
People who actually like beer with taste are in a minority in most western suburbs pubs!

Say's the bloke that wont have cheese on their pizza

Mould ain't my thing.

No mushrooms either then...

[Jimmy_041]

Very similar to the car industry except they are not massively subsidised by the government

Travelling up and down the Southern Expressway every morning and afternoon one week, I could count locally made cars without hitting double figures in any of the 10 trips. What's the use of producing something if no-one is buying them? The epitome of the problem was an outraged Nick Champion standing outside GMH who was asked what make of car he had - yep; an imported 4WD

They have said that sales of the local product have fallen to the point the brewery is not commercial.
I'd say the land will be worth a fortune which is probably the biggest reason to sell it
SAB products will probably still be marketed as local product (ala SGIC and Bank SA) even though they'll be produced interstate.

I don't touch their product but its still sad another local industry is going