Paradise Beverages

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Infobox company | name = Paradise Beverages (Fiji) Limited | logo = Paradise Beverages (Fiji) logo.png | logo_size = 275px | logo_caption = | logo_alt = | type = | industry = | fate = | predecessor = Carlton Brewery Fiji Limited; Fosters Group Pacific Limited | successor =  | founded = {{Start date and age|1957|08}} in Suva, Fiji | founder =  | defunct =  | hq_location_city = Suva | hq_location_country = Fiji | area_served = Fiji, Samoa | key_people = Betty Ivanoff (chairperson); Michael Spencer (general manager) | products = Fiji Bitter, Fiji Gold, Fiji Gold Moli; Fiji Premium; Export, Vonu Pure Lager | owner = | num_employees = 192 | num_employees_year =  | parent = Coca-Cola Amatil | website = {{URL|www.paradisebeverages.com.fj}} }}

'''Paradise Beverages (Fiji) Limited''' is a Fijian alcoholic beverage producer based in Suva. It is a publicly listed company on the South Pacific Stock Exchange.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spx.com.fj/Investing/Already-a-Shareholder/Listed-Entity-Financials|title=Listed Entity Financials|publisher=South Pacific Stock Exchange|accessdate=25 November 2020}}</ref>

Paradise Beverages was established in August 1957 in Suva, following a partnership between Carlton and United Breweries and Carpenters Fiji Limited, the company was incorporated as Carlton Brewery Fiji Limited (CBFL) in November.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2017/08/27/celebrating-60-years-of-brewing-fijis-iconic-beer/|title=Celebrating 60 Years Of Brewing Fiji's Iconic Beer|newspaper=Fiji Sun|date=27 August 2017|accessdate=25 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | title=Comparison with 1935 Shows Remarkable Figures GROWTH OF THE W. R. CARPENTER PACIFIC EMPIRE (1 September 1957) | journal=Pacific Islands Monthly | date=1957-09-01 | publisher=Pacific Publications | volume=XXVIII | issue=2 | pages=42 | issn=0030-8722}}</ref>

The company's commenced production of its first beer, Fiji Bitter, twelve months later in November 1958, following the official opening of the Carlton Brewery in Walu Bay, Suva. The brewery’s first keg of locally-brewed draught beer going on sale in January 1959. In 1972 CBFL made 14% of the company available to public shareholders.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article101994411 |title=Fijians to get brewery shares |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=46 |issue=13,176 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=14 July 1972 |accessdate=25 November 2020 |page=15 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In 1977 the company purchased the South Seas Brewery, which was based in Lautoka. The South Seas Brewery was constructed in 1972 by majority shareholder, New Zealand Breweries, but closed due to bankruptcy in March 1975.<ref>{{Citation | title=Business and Development SOLOMONS' REEFS MAY BE A VAST LABORATORY FOR THE EXPERTS (1 August 1975) | journal=Pacific Islands Monthly | date=1975-08-01 | publisher=Pacific Publications | volume=46 | issue=8 | pages=69 | issn=0030-8722}}</ref> The company releasing Fiji Light and Fiji Stout, replacing them in 1995 with Fiji Gold.<ref>{{Citation | title=Carlton Brewery overco (1 January 1996) | journal=Pacific Islands Monthly | date=1996-01-01 | publisher=Pacific Publications | volume=66 | issue=1 | pages=46 | issn=0030-8722}}</ref>

In 1998 it acquired the South Pacific Distillery from Fiji Sugar Corporation, the only commercial distillery in the South Pacific region at that time.<ref>{{Citation | title=Foster's Fiji fling.(FINANCE) | journal=The Australian (National, Australia) | date=1998-01-14 | publisher=News Limited | pages=023 | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/65601077 | access-date=25 November 2020}}</ref>

In July 1999 CBFL purchased Samoa Breweries Limited in Apia, the producer of Vailima beers and Samoan bottler of Coca-Cola.<ref>{{Citation | title=BUSINESS Ragg predicts riches in brewery trade (1 November 1999) | journal=Pacific Islands Monthly | date=1999-11-01 | publisher=Pacific Publications | volume=69 | issue=11 | pages=17 | issn=0030-8722}}</ref> In 2000 Carlton and United held a majority 63% stake in the company, Fijian Holdings Limited (a Fijian investment company owned by the provinces of Fiji) held 30%, purchased in 1995, and the remaining 7% was owned by a number of local interests. In May 2005, CBFL merged with South Pacific Distilleries to form Fosters Group Pacific Limited (FGPL), which two months later was listed on the South Pacific Stock Exchange.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/155268/fiji-liquor-firms-merge|title=Fiji liquor firms merge|publisher=Radio New Zealand|date=26 May 2005|accessdate=23 November 2020}}</ref> Fijian Holdings Limited retaining a 28.9% share in the new company. In 2007 FGPL launched Fiji Premium.

In September 2012 following the global takeover of Fosters Group by multi-national brewer, SABMiller, the company was sold to Australian-listed company Coca-Cola Amatil for FJ$91 million, and renamed Paradise Beverages Fiji Limited (PBFL).<ref>{{Citation | title=Coca-Cola Amatil drinks to bountiful Fiji | journal=Australasian Business Intelligence | date=2012-04-17 | publisher=COMTEX News Network, Inc | issn=1320-6680}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2015/03/16/coca-cola-amatil-changes-paradise-beverages-board/|title=Coca-Cola Amatil Changes Paradise Beverages' Board|newspaper=Fiji Sun|date=16 March 2015|accessdate=23 November 2020}}</ref> Coca-Cola Amatil currently holds a controlling 89.59% stake in the company.

In March 2014 PBFL acquired the Island Brewing Company in Nadi.<ref>{{Citation | title=Coca-Cola backs Fiji craft beer.(Business) | journal=The Age (Melbourne, Australia) | date=2013-09-16 | publisher=Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited | pages=27 | issn=0312-6307}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://fijivillage.com/news/Paradise-Beverages-to-buy-Vonu-Holdings-Limited-2r95ks|title=Paradise Beverages to buy Vonu Holdings Limited|publisher=Fiji Village|date=29 August 2013|accessdate=25 November 2020}}</ref> The Island Brewing Company was established in 2009 by New Zealand brothers Jeremy and Jonathan Ullrich. It commenced operations as a boutique micro-brewery, producing Taki Premium Lager and Vonu Pure Lager.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2009/09/22/new-brewery-set-to-open/|title=New brewery set to open|newspaper=Fiji Sun|date=23 September 2009|accessdate=23 November 2020}}</ref>

In 2015 PBFL commenced upgrading its facilities, spending over FJ$45 million over three years, doubling production capacity, and constructing a state-of-the-art packaging facility.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2015/05/07/new-paradise-beverages-brew-house-doubles-the-capacity/|title=New Paradise Beverages Brew House Doubles The Capacity|first=Rachna Lal|last=Suva|newspaper=Fiji Sun|date=7 May 2015|accessdate=25 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/business/40m-invested-by-paradise-beverages/|title=$40m invested by Paradise Beverages|first=Praneeta|last=Prakash|newspaper=Fiji Sun|date=15 February 2019|accessdate=25 November 2020}}</ref> In February 2019 the company launched the Fiji Gold Moli, a version of their best selling beer with a lemon flavour.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://fijivillage.com/news/Paradise-Beverages-launches-new-beer-flavour---the-Fiji-Gold-Moli-with-a-twist-of-lemon-k52sr9/|title=Paradise Beverages launches new beer flavour - the Fiji Gold Moli with a twist of lemon|first=Anamika|last=Singh|publisher=Fiji Village|date=21 February 2019|accessdate=23 November 2020}}</ref>

==See also== {{Portal|Beer}} * Beer in Fiji * Samoa Breweries * List of companies of Fiji

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{official website|https://www.paradisebeverages.com.fj/}} {{Alcoholic drinks}} Category:Coca-Cola brands Category:Beer brands in Fiji Category:Beer in Fiji Category:1957 establishments in Fiji Category:Food and drink companies established in 1957 Category:Companies based in Suva Category:Fijian brands Category:Companies listed on the South Pacific Stock Exchange Category:Breweries in Fiji