AUSTRALIA: Beer losing ground as RTDs cannibalise market share
RTDs will continue to be a mixed blessing for the drinks industry in Australasia at least, according to a new report by investment bank ABN Amro. The Global Beer Industry report says that the rapid growth of RTDs is likely to destroy any potential increase in beer market volumes in Australasia in 2002, as they cannibalise beer volumes. ABN Amro says that as RTDs continue to grow rapidly over the next two years 70% of their market-share growth will come at the expense of beer.