CANADA: APB, Molson sign Tiger deal

Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) has teamed up with Molson in Canada.

The Singapore-based company, in which Heineken holds a 42% stake, said today (14 February) that Molson would distribute APB's flagship beer brand, Tiger, in Canada.

The agreement takes effect from 1 April. Financial details were not disclosed.

The alliance will enable Tiger to broaden its distribution coverage in the country, beyond its current heartlands of Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta.

"Canada is a market that offers exciting prospects for imported beer brands and one where we envision long-term growth for the Tiger brand," said Koh Poh Tiong, APB's CEO.

"We are pleased to be partnering Molson. With the further growth of the brand in the vast Canada beer market, it will certainly bring us another step closer to our vision of developing Tiger beer into the world's leading contemporary Asian beer brand."

APB is hoping to achieve greater penetration for Tiger into on-premise outlets such as up-market restaurants, bars and clubs in cities such as Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.

Mark Hunter, chief commercial officer at Molson, added: "The partnership with Asia Pacific Breweries will allow us to continue to provide beer drinkers in Canada with a quality product that will meet their various preferences as well as drinking occasions."

Tiger is the first Asian beer in Molson's portfolio of imported brands.