Robbies turns to plastic for export push
By: JimOldfield
November 15th, 2012
Cheshire brewer Robinsons hopes plastic will be fantastic for its overseas sales as it turns to Petainer kegs for its latest export push.
The family brewer is now planning to export its draught ales, after worldwide demand for beers Old Tom and Chocolate Tom soared since Old Tom won the “Best Beer in the World” title in 2009.
Currently, Robinsons only export bottled versions of their prize winning ales because of the logistical problems of recovering expensive kegs.
But after being approached by their export partner Sovereign to trial plastic Petainer kegs, Robinsons are delighted to be waving off an additional 20,000 20-litre kegs on a one way ticket around the world.
Managing director, Oliver Robinson, said: “Regular kegs cost a lot, especially when it takes six months for them to be returned.
“Petainers are effectively a PET box which fits neatly inside a rigid cardboard outer which can be fully branded.
“So we can use these for our own beers and those of our contract customers and the initial feedback has been fantastic, we already have six customers keen to start exporting.
“They are recyclable, improve cash flow, require lower set up costs, carry no risk of keg theft and are more efficient in freight containers and to top it all, deliver a great quality product 6 months after filling. In fact they can be very useful for certain domestic customers too such as hotels and sports clubs.”
“We have the capacity to fill at least 20,000 in year one with a maximum of around 40,000- all in 20 litre kegs which attach to a coupler like any other keg beer.
“This could be increased should we wish to change shift patterns but this is a great place to start” he added.
David Davies, managing director of Sovereign added, “Robinsons are the perfect partner for us with this project.
“Old Tom is already selling well in bottle and we have several customers asking for a draught format. I have no doubt this is the best form of one-way keg having spent over three years exploring the options.”
