So, what's the deal here??

[Minuteman]

Just went to Hypermart Lippo for some beer stock. No Anker, no Bintang, all restock is some brand called Prost Beer.

So, what's up with that? Has there been a ban on the longtime beer stock? When they were pushing that crap, Bali Hai, a few years back, just couldn't hack that stuff. Hope this Prost is better and regular tasting beer!!!

later,

 

[Puspawarna]

No idea what's up, but I checked the Prost Beer website and found gems like:

• Good quality product never make you stuck!
• Booze your mood with the good news!
• Every beer contains yeast but only a great beer contains healthy and happy yeast with heritage to comfort you.

There's more, but you get the idea. For the sake of their customers, I hope their brewing sensibilities exceed their English language marketing sensibilities.

 

[Davita]

Here in Bali they have evenings when they offer a free Prost with each decent beer bought.

 

[atlantis]

This is all about the program insentives proposed by the brands and the profit the shop feel they can make.

As you certainly know, supermarkets like Hyper don't give a rat's ass about your satisfaction or taste. They know you will end up buying the product they push. So if you want to really push it, just get rid of the others. It isn't rare that they receive monetary insentive (or free cartons) if you give to a brand the exclusivity of the shelf.

I was discussing a similar issue with a store manager of a competitor of Hyper in my region. I had a meeting with him to deal a bulk purchase of a particular product they were promoting. While going through the store and their storage I noticed that one brand (Marjan) wasn't featured in the shelves while there was three palettes of the brand products in their storage. Answer from the store manager to my question about it? They had removed most of the Marjan one because they were conducting a week end promo for a competitor brand (ABC).

 

[R Cameron]

https://forum.expatindo.org/threads/whats-happening-with-beer-supplies-in-jakarta.3059/

I would try calling or visiting the local distributor for the brand you like and ask them who is stocking it, or the distributor may let you buy direct.

 

[Puspawarna]

This is all about the program insentives proposed by the brands and the profit the shop feel they can make.

As you certainly know, supermarkets like Hyper don't give a rat's ass about your satisfaction or taste. They know you will end up buying the product they push. So if you want to really push it, just get rid of the others. It isn't rare that they receive monetary insentive (or free cartons) if you give to a brand the exclusivity of the shelf.

I was discussing a similar issue with a store manager of a competitor of Hyper in my region. I had a meeting with him to deal a bulk purchase of a particular product they were promoting. While going through the store and their storage I noticed that one brand (Marjan) wasn't featured in the shelves while there was three palettes of the brand products in their storage. Answer from the store manager to my question about it? They had removed the Marjan one because they were conducting a week end promo for a competitor brand (ABC).

That explains a lot!

 

[Minuteman]

Well, they had a few bottles of Heineken so I bought 6 bottles of that and 6 bottles of Prost. If this Prost goes down well, no problem I guess. But...I've never seen both Anker and Bintang get completely sidelined anywhere, anytime here in Indonesia.

 

[Anglian]

I tried the Prost, it seemed ok, but I always think there’s good beer and better beer

 

[Smallworld]

Have you tried farmer's market... they always have some beer ... and yes I have seen Anker and Bintang standing next to each other.
I simply cannot imagine Lippo Cikarang running out of beer.... imagine all Japanase workforce switching to sake, soji and so on..... that would be a disaster on their monthly budgets.

 

[vocalneal]

Hmmm Prost is a Bali beer? Tourist numbers are down because of volcano scare . They made too much so dump it on the mainland.

Shame on the OP the more people buy the less incentive there is for them to stock the "good" stuff.

 

[Bad_azz]

I've had Prost (usually when they are the gig sponsors for hubby's band). It is fine, considering they all taste a bit like dishwater anyway.
None of the beer here is prober beer- its all lager.
So I am waiting for someone to start selling Tetley's or Boddington's or Theakston's
Ohhhh if only that day would come.

 

[atlantis]

I've had Prost (usually when they are the gig sponsors for hubby's band). It is fine, considering they all taste a bit like dishwater anyway.

Prost is owned by PT. Beverindo Indah Abadi (part of the Orang Tua group which comprises a lot of very shitty alcohol). Whenever they sponsor a gig, if you meet any of their representative, chat with them and tell them that for the accompanying team (read: you) they should provide some of their Konig Ludwig Weissbier. They own the license for Indonesia and that beer is good stuff. I keep the stock we have in my office and, by respect for our customers, sometimes perform quality check randomly choosing a few bottles.

 

[vocalneal]

Sudden realization that beer in Indonesia maybe more expensive than Thailand

 

[atlantis]

This is all about the program insentives proposed by the brands and the profit the shop feel they can make.

Just to give you an example, not long ago and as a sub-distributor for a domestic beer brand I got proposed 3 extra free cartons of beer for each 50 cartons purchased (we already had 1 carton free per 50) on top of an already decent wholesale price. See it in percentage. An extra 6% on a fast moving items means a very tempting extra profit for a trader. In this kind of case I don't think twice to heavily promote a product over another one.

And we are not Hyper, so imagine what they can get.

 

[atlantis]

Hmmm Prost is a Bali beer?.

Nope. It's not. It's brewed in Semarang in the Orang Tua brewery.

 

[Minuteman]

I don't drink like I used to, now only a couple of times a month. BUT..Anker has been my fav for many years and it hits me wrong when the stores do not stock it. The mall in Lippo Karawaci has always had Anker and Bintang amongst others...always.

Considering some of the crap I've had over the many years in Iran, Cameroon, USA...this should be no major hurdle. Heck, it is still 4.8% alcohol. Later when Anker is back on the shelves it will make my day even better.

 

[atlantis]

Later when Anker is back on the shelves it will make my day even better.

No worries they will. Very soon. PT Multi Bintang and PT Delta Djakarta (Anker) have respectively 60% and 20% of the market share in Indonesia. Competitors like Bali hai or Prost have to do incredible marketing efforts to get a small piece of the juicy cake (the beer market is promising in Indonesia despite all the shitty regulations the government loves to bash us with). However, they only can make "coups". They wouldn't be able to pass a deal with a major supermarket to get almost exclusively a shelf on a long period. A couple of days, like a week end for example, but longer, no way.

 

[Euc-]

I think that this is a perfect opportunity to try Stark beer!

Atlantis' suggestion for König Ludwig Weissbier is also spot on.

 

[Davita]

Hmmm Prost is a Bali beer? Tourist numbers are down because of volcano scare . They made too much so dump it on the mainland.

I believe Prost is made in Semarang but you may be thinking of Stark.... which is brewed in Singaraja in N. Bali.
I've started drinking Stark IPA as it does have more flavour than Bintang and less gassy. They made a very nice IPA (called 1945) for the celebration of Indonesian Independence but that may run out soon....or repackaged.

http://www.stark-beer.co.id/

 

[atlantis]

I think that this is a perfect opportunity to try Stark beer!

Excellent beer, indeed. Not coming from a beer culture I wouldn't define me as a connoisseur but I have been impressed when I tasted it in Bali last year. Pretty good stuff, unfortunately a pain in the bum for traders outside Bali or JKT.