AU$3bn Suntory Oceania launched in the ANZ market

Beam Suntory and Frucor Suntory have launched Suntory Oceania — a new AU$3bn multi-beverage partnership across the premium spirits and non-alcohol segments in both Australia and New Zealand.

Under Suntory Oceania, Beam Suntory and Frucor Suntory will create the fourth-largest ANZ beverage group in Oceania with full end-to-end control of its portfolio, including manufacturing, sales and distribution.

The partnership is set to be operational by mid-2025 in Australia and 2026 in New Zealand.

Frucor Suntory CEO Darren Fullerton said, “This new venture is all about bringing the best of Suntory to Oceania. With the ability to accelerate our growth trajectory, we strongly believe it will redefine market dynamics and offer more consumer beverage moments from sunrise to sunset, unlocking innovation for our customers across retail and hospitality industries.”

Mark Hill, Managing Director of Beam Suntory Oceania, commented, “This collaboration demonstrates our belief in the growth potential of the Australian and New Zealand markets. When other businesses are pulling back, we are forging ahead, bringing Suntory’s spirit of bold ambition to life.”

The catalyst for Suntory Oceania’s growth will be its $400 million facility currently being built in Ipswich, Queensland, with support from the state government. The facility is on track to be operational in mid-2024 with the ability to produce 20 million cases on start-up and over 50 million cases in the future. The additional beverage processing, packaging, warehousing and distribution will complement current manufacturing operations in Auckland.

Rendering of Frucor Suntory's new manufacturing facility in Qld.

Fullerton added, “The new site sets the industry standard in terms of investment into sustainable technologies to drive efficiency and minimise our carbon footprint. We are looking at a multi-pronged strategy through a CleanCo solar power purchase agreement, over 14 km of solar panels onsite, biomass boiler and state-of-the-art production equipment.”

Suntory will be expanding the current workforce and hiring over 400 roles as the partnership comes to life from mid-2025.

“We are immensely grateful for our long and successful relationship with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, which will continue through to 2025,” Hill said. “With Suntory Oceania, we are looking to the future with optimism and a wholly owned platform from which to build the long-term growth of our brands for years to come. It is the perfect opportunity for us to build upon the strength of Suntory as the global leader across the beverage sector.”

Further work to establish the partnership will occur over the coming year with each partner, Beam Suntory and Frucor Suntory, retaining its own distinct legal entity.

For more information about Suntory Group, visit www.suntory.com.

Top image caption: Darren Fullerton and Mark Hill with Suntory Oceania portfolio