Displaying items tagged: Brewers Association
New Founders CEO emphasizes ‘transformational’ innovation, international opportunity
As part of the second wave of American craft breweries, Founders Brewing Co. leaned on its innovation to help fuel the industry’s surging popularity over the last decade.
Bell’s, New Belgium synergies could unlock cost savings with deal
While Larry Bell maintains that his patrons won’t see any noticeable changes after the planned sale of his Bell’s Brewery Inc. to the parent company of New Belgium Brewing Co., the two like-minded breweries have several synergies they could leverage to unlock cost savings.
Brewers Association board position gives Brewery Vivant exec national platform
Kris Spaulding, co-owner and president of Grand Rapids-based Brewery Vivant, has long advocated for sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion in the local brewing community. Now she has a larger platform to promote the business values.
Michigan kombucha producers expand as consumer demand spikes
When Courtney Lorenz launched her business in 2015 brewing and selling kombucha, she started working with just three 5-gallon containers.
Craft beverage producers adapt marketing approaches, deal with supply chain headaches as pandemic drags on
The COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying shutdowns of bars, brewpubs, taprooms and tasting rooms had an undeniably negative effect on West Michigan craft beverage makers and their balance sheets.
Craft beverage suppliers see highs and lows during the pandemic
Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dennis Grumm’s brand of can seamers went from a luxury amenity to a requirement for many craft beverage producers.
As craft beverage waits out the pandemic, lingering supply chain and policy concerns remain
The COVID-19 pandemic has not doused Justin Buiter’s optimism in his future plans for his brewery. However, when Buiter looks ahead, he said 2021 will likely be spent regaining the footing his company lost during a gauntlet of a year.
Black Calder Brewing Co. brings new flavors, representation to craft beer scene
GRAND RAPIDS — Black Calder Brewing Co. is launching its first beer on Nov. 27, or “The Blackest Friday,” as the new brewery’s owners are calling it.
‘Chopped at the knees,’ Coldbreak makes pivot to direct to consumer sales
GRAND RAPIDS — Equipment maker Coldbreak knew it would face a major challenge when the outbreak of COVID-19 led to the shutdown of bars and restaurants and events across the country.
Craft distilleries face ‘dire’ consequences as pandemic obliterates on-premise sales
Michigan distilleries that switched to hand sanitizer production are keeping the lights on, but they face a tough road ahead with on-premise sales at bars and restaurants at a standstill for the foreseeable future.
After unbridled growth, Michigan craft beverage companies gird for devastating lows
Michigan’s craft beverage industry is facing a challenge with the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic that is unlike any other in its history.
Michigan craft beverage M&A to ease in 2020?
While craft beverage industry insiders expect more deals ahead nationally in 2020, the market in Michigan may be poised to level off.
Nanobrewery planned for Walker
WALKER — The owners of 1983 Brewing Company LLC are one step closer to opening Walker’s second brewery.
Craft brewers leverage cheaper, more efficient production models to get beer to market
Two West Michigan craft brewers operating with vastly differing business models are taking a similar approach to growing their operations by using capacity at other breweries. Both Sawyer-based Greenbush Brewing Co. and Muskegon-based Rake Beer Project LLC are taking advantage of a production model that allows them to get beer into the market without a significant upfront capital investment.
Commercial-scale malting facility a ‘game-changer’ for state’s craft beverage supply chain
A group of investors plans to open a commercial-scale malting and grain-processing facility about an hour east of Kalamazoo to serve the region’s growing craft beverage industry.
Brewery equipment suppliers embrace growth, diversification
With the craft brewing industry continuing to grow — albeit slower than just a few years ago — many West Michiganbased equipment suppliers are honing their product niches to get ahead of any future market corrections.
Craft brewers walk regulatory tightrope with cannabis-related products
On the label of a recently released pale ale, New Belgium Brewing Co. proclaims “Hops and hemp reign — together at last.”
‘Realistic expectations’ urged as craft beer industry matures, competition rises
The meteoric rise of Michigan’s craft brewing industry has spawned the creation of hundreds of new companies in communities all over the state.
Brewery execs question craft beer’s emerging two-tiered pricing strategy
Stroll through the beer aisle at some West Michigan grocery supercenters and you might notice a bit of gold tucked between the red, white and blue cases of Budweiser and MillerCoors brands.
Craft brewers continue to eke out growth despite increased volatility
Muskegon’s Pigeon Hill Brewing Co. is embarking on ambitious expansion plans as the company wrestles with how best to compete in the highly volatile industry.
Craft beer pours $2 billion into Michigan economy
GRAND RAPIDS — As the craft beer industry continues to grow, it’s contributing to more economic activity in Michigan, both within the sector and its expanding supply chain.
FINDING AN ENTRANCE: PE searches for craft brewers to buy as M&A activity cools for industry
After a frenzied period of M&A activity for craft breweries, industry insiders and investors expect the pace of deals to moderate in the near future.
Muskegon startup targets craft brewers with can-sealing machine
MUSKEGON — A startup business on the lakeshore is helping craft brewers globally to diversify the mix of packaged products they can sell via their taprooms.
As exports grow, West Michigan craft brewers return to their roots
Michigan craft breweries have only just started to sell their beer in international markets, but many in the industry believe exporting could soon become an important diversification strategy.
Beer industry to boost support for hop and barley research
Proposed federal budget cuts have the potential to wipe out key hop and barley research programs that have helped improve the quality of the raw material supply chain for craft brewers.
Suppliers carve out niche with growing set of small craft breweries
Dynamics within the maturing craft beer industry are creating new growth opportunities for suppliers.
Alienating consumers? Craft brewers clamp down on inappropriate beer names, labels
Saugatuck Brewing Co. thought it was being edgy in 2011 when it coined the name “Hop on a Blonde” for its new blonde ale.
As competition heats up, Michigan craft brewers focus on business practices, taproom sales
Thirsty Michigan craft beer consumers bought the equivalent of around 59,000 more pints of Brewery Vivant’s beer in 2016 than they did the year before.
Founders CEO denies reports brewery will repurchase shares to meet trade group’s membership requirements
Contrary to a report in an international brewery trade publication, Founders Brewing Co. has no plans to repurchase some of its shares from its Spanish investors.
Growth for craft brewing industry shifts to smaller producers
As the four partners developed the business plan for Creston Brewery, they faced a key decision that would define the future direction of their company.