Coca-Cola Amatil in deal with global brewers

Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd (CCA), the Australian company that bottles and distributes Coca-Cola in Asia Pacific region has signed strategic agreements with global brewers Grupo Modelo, Carlsberg and Molson Coors for the distribution of their beers in the Pacific nations.

The multi-year agreements will enable the Sydney-based CCA to distribute premium beer brands of Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo, Danish Carlsberg and the US brewer Molson Coors in Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands, with some brands to be supplied into New Zealand, CCA said in an AGM update Tuesday.

CCA's group managing director, Terry Davis, said, ''Our new partnerships combine some of the world's leading international premium beer brands with CCA's large-scale customer and distribution apabilities.''

''CCA will now have a stronger beverage portfolio offering across the Pacific region and these partnerships will complement our growth plans with the potential acquisition of Foster's Fiji brewery and distillery which makes Fiji Bitter and Bounty Rum,'' Davis further said.

The company expects to commence distribution of all brands from mid 2012, subject to regulatory approvals.

CCA said that the company is going ahead with its planned acquisition of the Foster's Fijian business at approximately $62 million.