Kegstar announced two new appointments this week as the keg rental and collection business prepares to expand globally.

The company had already announced at the end of last year that it would be branching into Europe after one of its existing investors Brambles offered to acquire 100 per cent of the company, providing investment for growth.

Now with plans to expand the company even further across the world, Australian and New Zealand Kegstar customers will too have the opportunity to take their beers and ciders worldwide.

To make this possible, existing General Manager for Australia and New Zealand, Joe Cook, will move up to work alongside founder and Managing Director Adam Trippe-Smith as General Manager, Innovation and Business Growth.

Together, Cook and Trippe-Smith will be responsible for finding new markets for the company.

“I am extremely proud of what has been achieved by Kegstar in Australia and New Zealand and especially with the success of our bespoke tracking solution Kegstar Tracks. I consider myself very lucky to be in this high passion, high growth industry and now to be working in this environment on a global level is a challenge that I’m really looking forward to.

“We’re big advocates of helping the industry grow and to be able to provide sales channels for our customers is amazing, as is watching them grow. We hear so many little success stories of brewers that were renting only a few kegs to now renting hundreds a week and we’ve been able to grow with them.”

Stone & Wood has already begun working with Kegstar’s team in the UK and has expanded its supply chain in the country as a result.

“No one else is tackling the international movement of kegs, because it’s particularly difficult”, Cook added. “But we’re prepared to grab the opportunity with both hands and see if we can overcome the difficulties – pave the way internationally.”

Replacing Cook’s former role, Judd Michel has joined Kegstar as GM Australia and New Zealand. Industry may know Michel from his time with SABMiller, Heineken, Drinkworks and Coca-Cola Amatil.

“I am really excited to be working with the amazing team at Kegstar in Australia and New Zealand. With the explosion of craft beer and cider over the past few years and the service that Kegstar provides, it’s a win-win situation for all involved and that is truly rare and exciting.”

Michel says he hopes to be able to bring learnings from his experiences supplier/brewer side to provide even better service to Kegstar customers.

“The Kegstar team has done a phenomenal job to date and the challenge for the team and myself is to continue to raise the bar and keep delivering quality service and results”, Michel added.

Cook and Michel will now work together over a period to handover and transition between roles.