Coopers Brewery appoints Melanie Cooper as its first female chair in 161-year history

Coopers has appointed its first female chair in its 161-year history as part of a generational transition at the iconic Adelaide brewery.

Coopers Brewery chair Melanie Cooper.

Coopers Brewery has appointed its first female chair in its 161-year history.

Fifth-generation family member Melanie Cooper will take over from Glenn Cooper, who will step down later this month after close to 22 years at the helm of the family-owned brewer.

Ms Cooper is currently director of finance and corporate affairs at Coopers, and chairs the company’s charitable arm Coopers Brewery Foundation. She has been a director on the board since 2009, after becoming the first female member of the Coopers family to be employed on a permanent basis at the company in 1985.

She said as Australia’s largest independent family-owned brewery, Coopers had a “unique position in the beer industry and a strong reputation to uphold”.

“I’m honoured to become chair of Coopers Brewery,” she said.

“With major developments and initiatives under way at the brewery, and a vision for future growth, we’re in the midst of a truly exciting time for Coopers.

“Our industry faces opportunities and challenges. I hold a positive outlook and look forward

to working closely with my fellow directors and senior leadership team along this journey.”

Coopers Brewery chair Melanie Cooper is a fifth-generation family member. Picture: Supplied by Coopers

Ms Cooper’s elevation comes amid a challenging beer market and a general slowing of alcohol consumption due to cost of living pressures and changing consumer drinking patterns.

Coopers reported a full year net profit of $19.8m in the 12 months to June, up from $19.2m the previous year, despite beer sales slipping 2.3 per cent to 77.6 million litres, on the back of a 3.5 per cent decline the previous year.

However, revenue for the full year was up 5.9 per cent to $287m as keg sales increased by 26 per cent as people returned to pubs and other licensed venues.

Ms Coopers said the company was reporting a strong start to the holiday trading period, but rising beer excises were causing more pain for consumers during the current cost of living crisis.

“We’ve had a cracking November,” she said.

“The first five months (of financial year) are looking strong, which is really good to see. And despite the cost of living pressures out there, people are still going out and spending money at the pubs.

“So that’s really good for the industry. It’s a shame that our beer is so heavily taxed. It is hard on families and there is market concentration, but we think despite the decline in beer consumption, we seem to be bucking that trend and we’ve got growth at the moment.”

The beer excise was last increased in August, rising 2.2 per cent following a 3.7 per cent rise in February.

Ms Cooper said Coopers would continue to advocate for changes to the tax regime through industry group the Brewers Association.

“It is something we’ve been advocating for through the Brewers Association for many years,” she said.

“Excise increases twice a year and we’ve advocated that perhaps it should be once a year – Treasury, I believe, rejected that in the past, but it’s something I think the Brewers Association will keep on fighting for, and perhaps a lower excise rate on low and mid-strength beers to encourage moderation in beer consumption.”

Coopers has also appointed its first sixth-generation family member to the board, with Andrew Cooper joining as a director.

He joined the company in 2017 as national business manager, and is currently responsible for the brewery’s national on-premise accounts as well as growing export markets.

Mr (Glenn) Cooper said it was the right time for “generational change” at the company.

“Fortunately, we have enthusiastic sixth-generation family members who are supportive of the brewery as it moves into a new era,” he said.

Originally published as Coopers Brewery appoints Melanie Cooper as its first female chair in 161-year history