Post by Cel on Oct 28, 2008 4:10:37 GMT -5
Beer drinkers are hailing a victory against brewing giant Foster's over a pricing scandal linked to the downsizing of their favourite stubby.
A contrite sales manager from the Foster's-owned Cascade Brewery in Hobart on Tuesday admitted "we got it wrong".
Cascade was accused in March of making a stealthy grab for more profits when it reduced the size of its 375ml twist-top Pale Ale stubby by 45ml to a sleeker "European-style" 330ml bottle without changing the price.
Cascade spokeswoman Liz McLachlan said the carton price of the 330ml prise-top bottles, at the time of their launch, dropped by $4.27 per carton in Tasmania but stayed the same on the mainland.
"There was a wholesale price reduction in Tasmania but not anywhere else," Ms McLachlan said.
The brewer is now promising to sell the resurrected 375ml stubby at its 330ml price.
But Tasmanians are set to benefit ahead of mainlanders again.
Cascade sales manager Dom Bury said Tasmanians would be the first to access the return of the 375ml stubby from early November.
But the rest of Australia will follow "during 2009", he said.
Mr Bury put a positive spin on the about-face as his team shouted beers at several Hobart pubs on Tuesday.
He said he was celebrating the change back after listening to beer drinkers who had not liked the change in size and said they preferred an easy twist top opening cap.
"We got it wrong, which is something we regret, and now we're fixing it," he said.
The move to reduce the stubby size - yet maintain the same price - resulted in a massive drop in sales with some outlets reporting a 50 per cent drop off in sales.
Several website protests sprung up in outrage.
One with more than 1,200 contributors appeared on Facebook .
Beer activists were jubilant.
"Tell your friends, tell your enemies, never in the history of Australia has an issue been so important - WE HAVE A WIN!!," the site roared.
Other posts on the site captured the mood with "Rejoice...!!!", "Huzzar!" Yay! Great news all around", "Whoop whoop!" and "woo hoooooo".
Cascade spokeswoman Liz McLachlan later said other brews in the company's line-up had also been downsized from a 375ml stubby to a 330ml bottle.
Cascade Premium Lager, Cascade Blonde and Cascade Stout had been downsized as well as Pale Ale but those brews remain at their 330ml size, she said.
A contrite sales manager from the Foster's-owned Cascade Brewery in Hobart on Tuesday admitted "we got it wrong".
Cascade was accused in March of making a stealthy grab for more profits when it reduced the size of its 375ml twist-top Pale Ale stubby by 45ml to a sleeker "European-style" 330ml bottle without changing the price.
Cascade spokeswoman Liz McLachlan said the carton price of the 330ml prise-top bottles, at the time of their launch, dropped by $4.27 per carton in Tasmania but stayed the same on the mainland.
"There was a wholesale price reduction in Tasmania but not anywhere else," Ms McLachlan said.
The brewer is now promising to sell the resurrected 375ml stubby at its 330ml price.
But Tasmanians are set to benefit ahead of mainlanders again.
Cascade sales manager Dom Bury said Tasmanians would be the first to access the return of the 375ml stubby from early November.
But the rest of Australia will follow "during 2009", he said.
Mr Bury put a positive spin on the about-face as his team shouted beers at several Hobart pubs on Tuesday.
He said he was celebrating the change back after listening to beer drinkers who had not liked the change in size and said they preferred an easy twist top opening cap.
"We got it wrong, which is something we regret, and now we're fixing it," he said.
The move to reduce the stubby size - yet maintain the same price - resulted in a massive drop in sales with some outlets reporting a 50 per cent drop off in sales.
Several website protests sprung up in outrage.
One with more than 1,200 contributors appeared on Facebook .
Beer activists were jubilant.
"Tell your friends, tell your enemies, never in the history of Australia has an issue been so important - WE HAVE A WIN!!," the site roared.
Other posts on the site captured the mood with "Rejoice...!!!", "Huzzar!" Yay! Great news all around", "Whoop whoop!" and "woo hoooooo".
Cascade spokeswoman Liz McLachlan later said other brews in the company's line-up had also been downsized from a 375ml stubby to a 330ml bottle.
Cascade Premium Lager, Cascade Blonde and Cascade Stout had been downsized as well as Pale Ale but those brews remain at their 330ml size, she said.