Ben Kooyman

The Independent Brewers Association now has more than 200 members for the first time in its history, according to chairman Ben Kooyman.

Kooyman announced the milestone to members this afternoon following a board meeting on Tuesday.

“While the headlines may have been dominated in recent weeks by the sale of two of our larger members to multinationals I am very happy to report that we now have more than 200 full members,” he said.

“This is the first time we have cracked the double ton and it is a great endorsement for the IBA.”

Strategic review
Kooyman further announced that the board had decided to undertake “a wide ranging strategic and organisational review”.

“The board has come to the view that after five years in operation now is an ideal opportunity for us to take stock and consider our strategic goals, operational priorities and corporate structure,” he said.

“We have appointed Growthwise, a Newcastle based accounting firm, to assist us in this task.”

Growthwise has been the IBA’s financial advisor since its inception and has an intimate understanding of the association, Kooyman told Brews News.

“To act on behalf of 200 members and do it well, we thought we’d better get an independent view,” he said.

“We just thought it was important that it wasn’t led by five board members who have their own businesses and perhaps conflicts of interest with suggesting strategies.”

As part of the process a survey of members will be conducted and Growthwise will also be reaching out to a broad range of industry participants to get their views on the IBA.

“We’re aiming to have a recommendation for board approval and implementation by the middle of December,” Kooyman told Brews News.

Jury out on Feral
While 4 Pines’ exit from the IBA is sealed following its sale to AB InBev, Feral’s eligibility as a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Amatil remains unclear.

“We are liaising with Feral in relation to their membership,” Kooyman told Brews News.