Fosters has just annouced a partnership with Shane Warne - famed Australian cricketer. This partnership will replace the 'Boonanza' promotion that took place during the past two Cricket seasons in Australia...
More info here - http://fosters.com.au/mediacentre/docs/VB_Warnie_Release_300807.pdf
Friday, August 31, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
VB Lovers across the world....
Here is a map (work in progress) of where some VB lovers are around the world who took the time to sign the petition to have VB imported into the USA!
It will continue to grow and update accordingly:
It will continue to grow and update accordingly:
Thursday, July 12, 2007
australianbeers.com
Cheers to David @ http://www.australianbeers.com who has added the VB petition link to their VB page!
Check out this site for the most comprehensive information on all Australian beers you'll find! There are also some intereting articles to read too!
Cheers!
Check out this site for the most comprehensive information on all Australian beers you'll find! There are also some intereting articles to read too!
Cheers!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Interview with Trevor O'Hoy - CEO, Fosters Group
Read an interesting interview with Trevor O'Hoy (Fosters CEO) on australianbeer.com
Here's an interesting response to a question posed by the interviewer:
Q - "...Did VB's national success take Foster's by surprise, and why haven't you pushed it internationally more?"
A - There’s nothing surprising about VB’s success. It’s a great tasting beer, it’s down to earth, understated and unpretentious – just like the average Aussie bloke. We take the ongoing stewardship of VB very seriously. It is our most successful brand and Australia’s favourite beer and we aim to keep it that way.
As for taking VB overseas, we’ve learnt a lot through the Foster’s experience and we are cautious with the potential ‘internationalisation’ of VB. The economics of the international beer market mean it’s hard to take a mainstream beer into a foreign market – as with many brands, what is the ‘house’ lager at home is often presented as a premium brand overseas – a positioning that may not necessarily work for a brand like VB.
One of the many benefits of the sale of Foster’s to S&N is the freedom we now have to take brands from our portfolio of beers into other markets. What we would need to weigh up is whether meddling with VB’s positioning is worthwhile or whether we should focus on brands which already enjoy premium positioning, e.g. Crown or Cascade, or enjoy global interest such as that generated via the Big Ad for Carlton Draught.
****************
Interesting...
Here's the link to the full article - http://www.australianbeers.com/beers/interview/ohoy/ohoy.htm
Cheers!
Here's an interesting response to a question posed by the interviewer:
Q - "...Did VB's national success take Foster's by surprise, and why haven't you pushed it internationally more?"
A - There’s nothing surprising about VB’s success. It’s a great tasting beer, it’s down to earth, understated and unpretentious – just like the average Aussie bloke. We take the ongoing stewardship of VB very seriously. It is our most successful brand and Australia’s favourite beer and we aim to keep it that way.
As for taking VB overseas, we’ve learnt a lot through the Foster’s experience and we are cautious with the potential ‘internationalisation’ of VB. The economics of the international beer market mean it’s hard to take a mainstream beer into a foreign market – as with many brands, what is the ‘house’ lager at home is often presented as a premium brand overseas – a positioning that may not necessarily work for a brand like VB.
One of the many benefits of the sale of Foster’s to S&N is the freedom we now have to take brands from our portfolio of beers into other markets. What we would need to weigh up is whether meddling with VB’s positioning is worthwhile or whether we should focus on brands which already enjoy premium positioning, e.g. Crown or Cascade, or enjoy global interest such as that generated via the Big Ad for Carlton Draught.
****************
Interesting...
Here's the link to the full article - http://www.australianbeers.com/beers/interview/ohoy/ohoy.htm
Cheers!
Trademark issues....
Firstly a bit of background for those just tuning in...
In a response letter I sent to Fosters Group America, the Managing Director told me the reason they were unable to import VB (or other Fosters brands) into the USA was because of trademark issues...
So - I looked up the trademark "Victoria Bitter" with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and what I found was quite interesting.
There were 5 cases listed... The bottom 4 were simply change of ownership when Fosters Group bought out Carlton and United Breweries a few years back....
The current case was filed on January 23, 2007 (coincidentally, the same date the letter from Fosters Group to me was dated....).
The current status for this case reads as follows:
"A non-final action has been mailed. This is a letter from the examining attorney requesting additional information and/or making an initial refusal. However, no final determination as to the registrability of the mark has been made."
Hmm.... So, maybe Fosters really are having some kind of legal issues with the term "Victoria Bitter"...
Just to check, I searched all other Fosters Group beers too....
The only one that came up was Pure Blonde...
So - could this mean once resolved, VB may have a chance Stateside... We'll see!
Cheers....
In a response letter I sent to Fosters Group America, the Managing Director told me the reason they were unable to import VB (or other Fosters brands) into the USA was because of trademark issues...
So - I looked up the trademark "Victoria Bitter" with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and what I found was quite interesting.
There were 5 cases listed... The bottom 4 were simply change of ownership when Fosters Group bought out Carlton and United Breweries a few years back....
The current case was filed on January 23, 2007 (coincidentally, the same date the letter from Fosters Group to me was dated....).
The current status for this case reads as follows:
"A non-final action has been mailed. This is a letter from the examining attorney requesting additional information and/or making an initial refusal. However, no final determination as to the registrability of the mark has been made."
Hmm.... So, maybe Fosters really are having some kind of legal issues with the term "Victoria Bitter"...
Just to check, I searched all other Fosters Group beers too....
The only one that came up was Pure Blonde...
So - could this mean once resolved, VB may have a chance Stateside... We'll see!
Cheers....
Canada angle...
I recently discovered through a mate that VB is sold (albeit at high prices!) in Canada! Hmm.. The location where Fosters is brewed....
I looked around an saw one of British Columbias major bottle shops (BC Liquors) stocks it... So, contacted them and got information on who their supplier is for VB - and they too are located in Canada...
I've popped them an email to get some more info on the process of importing VB into Canada and hopefully some insight into why Fosters is reluctant to import into the USA...
Will keep you posted!
I looked around an saw one of British Columbias major bottle shops (BC Liquors) stocks it... So, contacted them and got information on who their supplier is for VB - and they too are located in Canada...
I've popped them an email to get some more info on the process of importing VB into Canada and hopefully some insight into why Fosters is reluctant to import into the USA...
Will keep you posted!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Fosters to start brewing in the USA!
Fosters has just struck a 10-year deal with Miller Brewing Company in the USA, to brew Fosters Lager in Texas and Georgia. It was previously brewed in Canada and then imported into the USA.
Does this not support VB's cause even more? They have a US mega-brewer on contract now, so whats another brew! They're also brewing 'Fosters Special Bitter' so the arguement for 'one brew only' won't work.....
Here is the link the Fosters' press release;
http://www.fosters.com.au/mediacentre/8ABEC3A96E4D4E8B8D898F17247B65FF.htm
Cheers!
Does this not support VB's cause even more? They have a US mega-brewer on contract now, so whats another brew! They're also brewing 'Fosters Special Bitter' so the arguement for 'one brew only' won't work.....
Here is the link the Fosters' press release;
http://www.fosters.com.au/mediacentre/8ABEC3A96E4D4E8B8D898F17247B65FF.htm
Cheers!
Welcome!
Welcome to the new site for the campaign to bring Victoria Bitter to the USA! Currently, VB is not for sale to the general public in the USA - but why??
Show your support by signing the petition at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/VBtotheUSA/ if you haven't already done so! :)
I'll post new updates as I get more info... And of course, if you have any leads or hints that could assist the campaign - please email me!
Cheers!
Show your support by signing the petition at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/VBtotheUSA/ if you haven't already done so! :)
I'll post new updates as I get more info... And of course, if you have any leads or hints that could assist the campaign - please email me!
Cheers!
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