More than three years ago, ambitious plan for a $400 million beverage production facility in Ipswich, Queensland were revealed by Suntory. The following year, in 2023, a plan to bring together Frucor Suntory and Beam Suntory together under one banner, Suntory Oceania.
Yesterday (7 July), both audacious plans were achieved and launched. With the largest investment in an Australian beverage manufacturing facility in more than a decade, a $3 billion beverage company – the fourth largest in the region – has been created.
Swanbank gives the company end-to-end responsibility for a portfolio of 40 market-leading brands across premium spirits, RTD (ready-to-drink) alcohol beverages, juice, water, soft drinks, coffee, energy and sports drinks, including, including premium Japanese whiskies, Suntory -196 RTD, Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Canadian Club, V Energy, Maximus, and Suntory BOSS.
While more than 2000 people were involved over the duration of the Swanbank facility in Ipswich, it has also been a massive undertaking for its workforce.
Suntory Beverage & Food Oceania CEO, Dai Minato, told Australian Bartender more than 400 people have been hired in the last two years.
“The scale, the people, the care for sustainability, and then a recruitment push for our commercial sales and supply chain network. Across two years we have recruited more than 400 people, so we look on this as a really new chapter. I think people are really pumped up.”
Suntory Global Spirits – Oceania managing director, Mark Hill, told AB, “We have achieved a huge amount in the last two years. I could choose any one component of the project, and it would be a major project transformation for any company.
“To be able to say we did all these things concurrently and as we expected is something we are very proud off. It has taken a superhuman effort by a lot of people and a lot of really really hard work.”
Hill added the investment showed the confidence Suntory has in terms of the local beverage market.
“We have made a really big investment in brand advocacy, building a national and state-based ambassador team and host of brand diplomats, working together, promoting our iconic brands – from the House of Suntory portfolio (including Japanese whiskies Hibiki and Toki, Roku gin and Haku vodka) to James B. Beam Distilling Co., Maker’s Mark, Canadian Club and Laphroaig – in the on premise market, and making sure that when our products are served, they are served in the right way every time.
“It is a big investment that reflects our confidence in the market,” he said.
The investment in Suntory’s ambassador and advocacy program is clear from this year’s relaunch of Club Suntory and the Suntory Cup. Our March issue featured the Advocacy team on the cover, with Suntory Global Spirits group advocacy manager, John Galiatsatos, saying, “Club Suntory is more than just a training program; it’s a movement to empower and inspire bar professionals from all backgrounds.”
Minato said, “At Suntory, our culture is shaped by our unique ‘Yatte Minahare’ spirit, which has encouraged us to dream big and make those dreams a reality for over a century. I’m excited by the ambition of our people, the strength of our brands, and the opportunity to shape new beverage experiences. This is just the beginning!” Minato said.