Philter Brewing have opened expressions of interest in an equity crowdfunding campaign through Birchal. It's the first of such campaigns to take place during 2023 and the brewery's media release says it's a means to keep themselves "Aussie owned". You can find the campaign here and the media release below.
MEDIA RELEASE: CHAMPION NSW BREWER CALLS OUT ANTI-COMPETITION TACTICS BY BEER GIANTS AS IT FIGHTS TO STAY AUSSIE OWNED
Philter Brewing, which was awarded Champion NSW Brewery last month, is joining the fight against apparent heavy handed anti-competition tactics the world’s top beer giants are employing to muscle out Australia’s independently owned craft beers from the nation’s pubs. According to Philter, thousands of industry jobs are under threat by the homogenisation of our much-loved beer culture.
Indie breweries employ more than half of Australia's brewing jobs even though they only account for 7% of the nation's annual sales. It’s this statistic that has propelled Philter to launch a campaign to stay Australian owned. The company is using its respected industry position to shine a spotlight on 'tap contracts' that limit the presence of craft beers in pubs, while also exposing the grocery giants for their mass production of beers designed to look like craft beers – thereby hoodwinking consumers.
Stef Constantoulas, co-founder of Philter Brewing, emphasises why it's crucial to maintain Australian ownership within the independent beer landscape. "Before I co-founded Philter with Mick Neil, I worked for one of the beer giants that currently have a duopoly over the Australian marketplace. If we were in any other country, these tactics would be considered anti competition and the government would stamp it out with appropriate legislation. Together, Carlton United Breweries, which is owned by Japan’s Asahi, and Lion Nathan, owned by another Japanese powerhouse Kirin, account for approximately 80-85%% of sales in Australia – For decades these guys have been locking in long term exclusive contracts with pubs inhibiting independent beer from having a fair go. These beers are bland in comparison, and it’s their customers who are being shortchanged.
“Australia’s beer culture has evolved greatly over the past 10 years with the vibrancy of craft beers, and that has got the big boys worried. When CUB and Lion Nathan buy out the independents, not only will jobs vanish, but profits will also be siphoned off overseas, rather than being spent in Australia.”
Constantoulas explains how this stranglehold on the market leads to conformity and blander tasting beer, "Diversity is important because these beer giants influence what you will be drinking – beers produced conform to their shareholder wishes, not to the wishes of the punters who want diversity and flavour. There are also a number of imitation craft beers available which creates confusion for consumers and clouds the concept of independence in the industry.
According to cofounder Mick Neil, now is the time to draw attention to these issues given that there is current discussion at parliament level. “We just want a level playing field to continue doing what we love. Since we launched in 2017, Philter has been growing 43% year on year, and have cracked $30m in sales revenue. We are bolstering our war chest so we can double our capacity and take the duopoly head on. That’s why we want our loyal supporters to become part owners in Philter– we are proudly Australian owned, and we want to stay that way. The Birchal equity crowdfunding raise means we can stay Aussie owned rather than selling off to a foreign owned beer giant in order to grow, which would sadly affect the taste of our beer. And taste is what our customers value most.”
Philter was born out of a backyard chat between Marrickville mates and neighbours, Mick Neil and Stef Constantoulas. Beer lovers and brand experts, between them they had the business, marketing and trade know-how to build a bold presence on the ever-expanding craft brewing landscape.
“We busted onto the Sydney beer scene with the release of our XPA in 2017, which won Australian champion pale ale in our first year,” said Mick Neil. “We quickly set ourselves apart with a look that nods to the aesthetic of iconic 1980s Australiana and now we boast arguably the most recognisable branding on the shelf or tap bank and have gone on to become one of the most awarded craft breweries in Australia”.
As a proud participant in the Certified Independent Seal initiative, Philter Brewing aligns itself with breweries championing independence. To display the seal, the brewery needs to be an IBA member, which means it has less than 20% foreign ownership, and produces fewer than 40 million litres of beer each year. It's a great way to identify Australian breweries that support jobs and a diverse marketplace. While independent beer has less than 10% of the total market share of beer in this country, it employs 51% of the industry as it is more labour intensive – it takes time to add all that love! On top of that indie breweries provide over 26,000 jobs in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and logistics and contributes approximately $1.93 billion to the nation’s economy every year. There are currently over 600 independent breweries in Australia.
Philter Brewing's equity crowdfunding campaign serves as a call-to-arms for Australians who seek variety and local economic support through their beer choices. By rallying behind Philter Brewing, consumers can actively safeguard Australia's rich beer legacy and support the thriving independent beer culture.
