SPB puts K4.2m into Canning Line Upgrade,
To Improve Customer Service
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“To better serve our customers and their overwhelming demand for our world class products, SP Brewery is investing K4.2m for the upgrading of our canning line,” announced SPB General Manager Mr Stan Joyce, at a press conference yesterday (7th August).

Mr Joyce said that the upgrade is necessary in order to meet the overwhelming demand for PNG’s internationally recognised products.

The SPB chief also stated: “Apart from keeping up with the demand, the upgrade is also necessary for SPB to maintain its top quality products. We only want to brew the best for our customers and consumers.”

SPB told the media that the upgrading will take approximately three months from August to October 2007.

“Because production will be disrupted during the upgrading period, our flagship brand SP Lager in cans only, will be brewed and packed temporarily at the Hatay Brewery Ltd (HBL) in Hanoi, Vietnam,” said Mr Joyce. “We have taken this approach to ensure we continue to meet our customers’ demand.”

Mr Joyce reiterated that this is only temporary until the company completes its upgrading.HBL is a sister company of SP Brewery. SPB and HBL are part of the Asia Pacific Breweries group headquartered in Singapore and consists of 32 breweries in 11 countries.

It is a state of the art brewery “and consumers should not be worried as they will produce the same great taste and quality beer that we are all used to.”

“To ensure we maintain the same quality of our product, the production of SP Lager in Vietnam is under a close supervision by SPB’s own Brewery Manager, Mr. Kuri Yuwai,” said Mr Joyce.

SPB emphasised that consumers should not be worried about the freshness of their favourite brew as all precautionary measures will be taken during the transportation process to ensure the product maintains its top quality.

The company advised that the difference will only be noticed in the packaging. The cans will be packed in cartons instead of can trays; manufacturing information on the can will be different in order to accurately state the place of brewing; the opening on the lid will also be slightly different with a smaller lid instead of the current wider ones; and contains Use by Date than Manufacturing Date.

The first batch of products has reached PNG on 26th July and should be in the market in early August.

“There will not be any price change during this time,” concluded Mr Joyce.

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For queries regarding this Media Release, contact the Corporate Affairs
Department on 302 8255 or email: gorethy.semi@sp.com.pg
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