Foster's Group

Infobox_Company
company_name = Foster's Group Limited
company_
company_type = Public (ASX|FGL)
company_slogan = Inspiring Global Enjoyment
foundation = 1887
location = flagicon|AUS Melbourne, Australia
key_people = David Crawford, Chairman
Ian Johnston, acting CEO
industry = Beverages
num_employees = 35,000 (2004)
products = Victoria Bitter
Fosters Lager
Jamieson's Run Wines
Wolf Blass Wines
Strongbow Cider
revenue = $3.9 billion AUD (2004)
homepage = [http://www.fosters.com.au/ www.fosters.com.au]

Foster's Group is a beer group with interests in brewing, wine-making and soft drinks. Foster's Group is the brewer of the Foster's Lager. Foster's Group Limited is a publicly-listed company on the Australian Securities Exchange and is based in Melbourne, Victoria. Its wine division Beringer Blass is the 7th largest producer of wine in the United States. T. Stevenson "The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia" Fourth Edition pg 468 Dorling Kindersly 2005 ISBN 0756613248 ] CEO Trevor O'Hoy, resigned on the 10th June 2008 after poor performance by the wine division of the group. [ [http://business.smh.com.au/fosters-hangover-not-over-20080610-2oej.html Foster's hangover not over - smh.com.au] ] O'Hoy was replaced by Ian Johnston on July 21 2008 in the position of acting CEO. [http://www.fosters.com.au/mediacentre/CBABFC3B5A3E4EC2B555991D7A3EB693.htm]

History

It was founded in Melbourne in 1886 by two American brothers, William and Ralph Foster of New York, who happened to own a refrigeration plant, which was necessary to brew beer in Australia's hot climate. They sold the brewery the following year and returned to the United StatesFact|date=March 2007.

In 1983, Carlton and United Breweries purchased Elders IXL, a giant Australian diversified conglomerate, and was renamed the Elders Brewing Group. Then in 1990, the Elders Brewing Group changed its name to the Foster's Group, to reflect the name of their most internationally recognised product.

In 2005, Foster's Group acquired the Australian wine-making group Southcorp. This acquisition added famous brands such as Penfolds, Lindemans and Rosemount to the Foster's stable and around $1 billion AUD to revenues.

Business

In 1990, Asahi Breweries acquired a 19.9% stake in Australian brewery giant Elders IXL which later became Foster' s Group.

Foster's Group imports, licenses, and distributes a large number of brands. In Australia, Foster's distributes the Asahi Super Dry, Cinzano, Corona, Kronenbourg 1664, Perrier, Skyy vodka, Stella Artois, and 42 Below import brands among many others. While in the United States and Canadian markets, Molson brews and sells Foster's Lager under license.

The company is committed to high standards of Occupational Health and Safety, however in August 2008, it was convicted and fined more than $1-million for two breaches of Victoria's (Australia's) Occupational Health and Safety Act which led to the death of a worker in 2006 [http://www.theage.com.au/national/fosters-fined-1125m-over-workers-death-20080805-3q7v.html] . The prosecution of the company by the Director of Public Prosecutions for WorkSafe Victoria resulted in a call for the company to better report on health and safety in its Annual Report. [http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/WorkSafe/SiteTools/News/Fosters+gets+record+fine+for+fatal+safety+breachesI]

Operating companies

* Carlton & United Beverages
* Foster's Wine Estates
* Matilda Bay Brewing Company

Beer brands

* Ballarat Bitter (last produced in limited quantity in 2006)
* Carlton Cold
* Carlton Draught
* Cascade Draught (see Cascade Brewery)
* Cascade Premium Lager
* Crown Lager
* Fiji Bitter
* Foster's Special Bitter
* Foster's Lager
* Melbourne Bitter
* Pure Blonde
* Sterling
* Victoria Bitter

Wine brands

* Beringer Vineyards [ [http://www.beringer.com/beringer/ Beringer Vineyards website.] The oldest continuously operating winery in the Napa Valley, founded 1876.. The winery is on the National Register of Historic Places as a Historic District.]
* Castello di Gabbiano
* Souverain
* Chateau St. Jean
* Etude
* Jamiesons Run
* Kaiser Stuhl
* Lindemans
* Matua Valley Wines
* Meridian
* Penfolds
* Rosemount
* Saltram
* St-Clement
* Stags' Leap Winery
* Wolf Blass
* Yellowglen

References

External links

* [http://www.fosters.com.au/corporate/ Foster's Official Site]
* [http://www.forbes.com/2000/08/29/mu8_print.html Beringer, Foster's Pop Champagne On Deal]
* [http://www.australianbeers.com/beers/interview/ohoy/ohoy.htm Interview with CEO of Foster's Group]
* [http://www.australianbeers.com/beers/fosters/fosters.htm Foster's History]
* [http://www.beringer.com/beringer/ Beringer Vineyards]