Beerbird cc was founded in November 2006 – on a mandate to become a manufacturer and distributor of innovative products that would satisfy unmet needs in the marketplace. And so it was that in September 2007, the first product, the Beerbird beer chicken cooking grid, was launched in South Africa. From humble beginnings (the concept, brand and imagery were all conceived in a small garden in Randburg) Beerbird cc has really spread its wings and the company now has award-winning products at hundreds of retailers nationwide. In addition to this, Beerbird has now also launched in the UK, Australia and New Zealand – where it is enjoying remarkable success. The brand is fun, striking and energetic and resonates well with the outdoor braai culture that is so pervasive in South Africa.
The directors of Beerbird cc are determined to build on the success of the initial products in the company’s stable – this time with a product set to be even bigger than the Beerbird brand. The new brand is called Fan Can and it is an ongoing collection of sports jigsaw puzzles – all individually packaged in a can. All of the puzzles are officially licensed by the relevant sports authorities and, to date, there is a Springboks Collection, a Proteas Collection and a Bulls Collection. In addition to this, the company has also secured deals to produce and sell licensed Fan Can products in New Zealand (with the All Blacks and New Zealand Cricket) and in Australia (with Cricket Australia, the AFL and the NRL.) Further deals in several other countries around the world are currently being finalized and this should see Fan Can in at least another four countries before the end of 2010.