An association formed last year to bring Australian craft breweries and beer companies together has received a boost after the Victorian Association of Microbreweries Incorporated (VAMI) announced it was encouraging its members to sign up – and would subsidise their membership. The association also announced it would be changing its name from Craft Beer Limited to the Craft Beer Industry Association.
In a statement to its members, the VAMI committee said: “It has become the opinion of the VAMI Committee that CBL offers the best opportunity for the industry to achieve its objectives and build on what the many VAMi members have achieved over the years. Additionally, the committee feels that CBL offers the best financial stability for a long term national association, and with that would come a stable base to get real achievements at a national level.”
Meanwhile, on the name change, a statement from the Craft Beer Industry Association explained: “Almost a year ago we started work on developing a national craft beer association and spent months under the working title of ‘Australian Craft Brewers Association’ as we moved towards launch. When we were ready to launch we went to register the name with ASIC and were surprised to find someone had reserved the name days beforehand. We didn’t want this to hold us up so, on the run, we launched under the name Craft Beer Limited as a short term solution until we were able to acquire a name that best represented the association.
“Now that we are up and running and gaining members and support as a true industry association we have changed our name to the Craft Beer Industry Association (CBIA), a name that simply describes who we are.”
We announced the formation of the association on The Crafty Pint last year. That same week a second organisation, called the Australian Real Craft Brewers Association, launched. Discussions have been ongoing between the two associations since then.
A full list of the 20-plus members who are now part of the Craft Beer Industry Association – plus details on its aims and how to join – can be found on its website. Meanwhile, the CBIA will hold its inaugural AGM on May 16, from 1.30pm to 4.30pm, in Melbourne during Good Beer Week; venue TBC. The meeting will be open to anyone with an interest in craft beer, and will include a ballot to elect the Inaugural CBIA Board. As such, they have issued a call for authorised representatives of fully paid members to nominate for positions on the CBIA Board.
The statement said: “We have some well qualified and experienced people in our industry and our aim is get the best people to represent us. We are looking for people who have broad industry knowledge, who have the ability to facilitate positive outcomes, and are open and inclusive in their approach. Importantly they need to have a track record in getting things done and have the time to be both engaged and active in the workings of CBIA. Although the board will be supported by various sub-committees and state chapters they will need to play an active role in the achievement of CBIA’s objectives. It’s not just a case of attending the occasional meeting.”
To be eligible for election, nominations need to submitted via email to email@craftbeer.org.au by April 27. There will be seven seats on the CBIA Board, one from each of the five member categories (Pub and Nano Brewers, Microbrewers, Contract Brewers, Regional Craft Brewers and National Craft Brewers) and two other positions from any of these categories.
