• Cascade Brewery manager Anita Holdsworth oversees the production of free drinking water for disaster-affected communities. (Image: CUB)
    Cascade Brewery manager Anita Holdsworth oversees the production of free drinking water for disaster-affected communities. (Image: CUB)
Close×

CUB’s Cascade Brewery has produced 360,000 cans of free drinking water to date, for distribution to communities around Australia whose water supplies are affected by natural disasters.

The brewery switched off beer production on Wednesday this week to produce 120,000 of the cans as part of CUB’s Disaster Relief Program, which launched in December 2018. Cans are transported to communities affected by disasters such as fires, floods, or droughts when requested by governments or organisations on the ground.

According to CUB, the 360,000 cans produced at Cascade to date have included 90,000 distributed to bushfire relief efforts in NSW and on Kangaroo Island; 80,000 to Townsville after last year’s floods; and more sent to drought-stricken communities in Queensland and NSW.

“Producing these cans is a logical focus for our relief efforts. Water is a critical part of our brewing process and we have the canning capability and transport networks to make a program such as this work.

“This is a small way for Cascade and Carlton & United Breweries to support regional and rural communities across Australia who are in crisis, and we’re proud to be doing so,” the company said.

CUB is also assisting bushfire relief with donations: this Australia Day long weekend, all proceeds from specially-marked VB kegs across Australia will go to the Rotary Clubs of Australia Bushfire Disaster Fund. CUB has already donated $250,000 cash to the fund, and expects the long weekend appeal to raise another $750,000.

Food & Drink Business

Coles Group has reported steady growth in its first-quarter results for FY26, driven by a strong supermarket performance. Total group sales revenue rose 3.9 per cent to $10.96 billion, with supermarket sales up 4.8 per cent to $9.97 billion.

Winners of the 2025 Australian Sparkling Wine Show have been announced, with Tasmanian wines taking out all four major trophies, three of them by Treasury Wine Estate’s Heemskerk Wines.

The annual Product of the Year Awards (POY) has confirmed one of the dominant and enduring consumer trends when it comes to food and beverage choices – personal health. NielsenIQ research, commissioned by POY, found 74 per cent of us are focusing on products that support energy, fitness, better sleep, stress relief, and brain function. This year was dominated by private label products, accounting for 68 per cent of winning products.