With exactly one zillion breweries operating across America, distribution news is always a steady constant in the CBB mailbox. Every week, we get announcements on new alliances, upcoming state expansions and even reductions from breweries growing and shrinking their distribution footprints. Here is some of that wholesaler news. Enjoy! If you have distribution news, send it to [email protected].
Arizona’s Mother Road Brewing expands into Nevada
Mother Road Brewing Co. recently announced its products will be available for purchase in two states — Arizona and Nevada. Mother Road entered the southern Nevada market on June 6 with Nevada Beverage Co. The brewery will lead with its acclaimed Tower Station IPA, the No. 1 independent selling beer in Arizona (Nielsen 208 Weeks ending March 2023) and its new Tower Station Roadside Grove brewed with blood orange and grapefruit. The beer will distribute through Nevada Beverage’s four territories in southern Nevada with over 2,500 accounts.
Mother Road plans on continuing to grow organically and will work with independent restaurants, bars, and stores within the greater Las Vegas community. Consumers will be able to locate the new beer through the Beer Finder available on Mother Road’s company website.
CEO Michael Marquess noted: “Although we were inspired by Route 66, sometimes you forget to take a left in Albuquerque. Joking aside, we are excited to share our beer with southern Nevada residents and the great team at Nevada Beverage Company.”
Nevada Beverage has been in business since 1948 and covers four territories in the state including Clark County, Nye County, Lincoln County, and Esmeralda County. These territories cover an approximate aggregated 74 percent of the state’s population. Nevada Beverage may be contacted via email at [email protected] or reached by phone at (702) 942-4200.
Mother Road Brewing is a southwest regional brewery located along Route 66 in Flagstaff, Arizona. Mother Road was John Steinbeck’s name for Route 66 in The Grapes of Wrath. The original brewery on Mikes Pike, the 1926 alignment of Route 66, is dedicated to experimental beers and processes and welcomes guests for pints, conversation, games, merchandise, and tours. The brewery on Butler Avenue brews for distribution in kegs and cans. Mother Road distributes state-wide in Arizona with Hensley Beverage Co. and its partners. For additional information, visit motherroadbeer.com.
Southern Ohio’s Cartridge Brewing partners with Heidelberg Distributing
Cartridge Brewing recently announced that it has partnered with Heidelberg Distributing (Ohio Valley Wine And Beer) for home market distribution rights. This strategic decision marks a significant milestone for Cartridge as it seeks to further expand its presence and ensure seamless distribution within the local market.
Leveraging the extensive network and expertise of Heidelberg, Cartridge will be able to optimize its supply chain, maintain consistent availability and meet the growing demand for its brews. Cartridge Brewing has previously been self-distributed within the Cincinnati area and is looking forward to the growth in the Dayton and Cincinnati area.
In December of 2022, Saucy Brew Works (Cleveland) acquired Cartridge Brewing. Read about that right here. Cartridge Brewing is located within the historic Peters Cartridge Factory, a revered landmark with a rich legacy. Originally constructed in the 1860s, this factory played a pivotal role as a thriving community hub and the centerpiece of Kings Mills, Ohio. Saucy Brew Works brings forth new opportunities and synergies, propelling Cartridge Brewing’s continued growth and solidifying its position within the industry. Saucy Brew Works has four brewpubs in Ohio, a cool tiki bar on Put-In-Bay and has continued plans for expansion.
NA brand Bravus Brewing debuts at Whole Foods, Wegmans and Publix (expands footprint at Target)
Bravus, a brewery dedicated solely to producing premium non-alcoholic craft beer, has announced its continued national retailer expansion, launching at Whole Foods Market, Wegmans and Publix, while increasing its footprint at Target. Consumers across twelve states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas will be able to enjoy the refreshing taste of six of Bravus’ celebrated styles.
“Availability of our premium, non-alcoholic craft beers at leading retailers like Target, Whole Foods Market, Wegmans, and Publix reinforces the growth of the brand and the non-alcoholic craft beer category, while rewarding our goal of making the best-tasting, premium, non-alcoholic craft beer accessible for new and returning fans of the brand,” said Philip Brandes, CEO and founder of Bravus Brewing. “These retailers are well known for their industry-leading standards for the brands it puts on shelves, so we are incredibly proud to be a trusted addition to their beer aisle.”
Bravus non-alcoholic products now available at select national retailers include:
- Oatmeal Dark, 6-pack
- Peanut Butter Dark, 6-pack
- West Coast IPA, 6-pack
- Blood Orange IPA, 6-pack
- Golden Ale, 6-pack
- Raspberry Gose, 6-pack
- Variety, 8-pack
You can find a complete list of Bravus’ National retail partners on the company’s store locator at www.Bravus.com. In addition to the U.S. market, Bravus Brewing’s premium non-alcoholic craft beer can be found at select international retailers in Australia, Japan, China, and South Korea, with plans to expand into more countries throughout 2023.
Kit NA Brewing expands distribution to Connecticut and New York
Kit NA Brewing of Portland, Maine, is expanding its distribution and is rolling into the states of Connecticut and New York this June. The brewery is teaming up with Northeast Beverage CT and Saratoga Eagle – Sales & Service, the launch with both distributors will kick off in early-mid June, marking an exciting milestone in the company’s growth strategy. With the addition of these new alliances, Kit NA Brewing will be able to bring its award-winning lineup of non-alcoholic beer to even more consumers and further expand its presence and growing demand in the industry.
In addition to expanding its distribution network, Kit NA Brewing has actively invested in its sales team, hiring an additional six sales managers. This strategic move will bolster the brand’s presence in both existing and new markets. By expanding in these areas of expertise, Kit NA Brewing is poised to make a significant impact in the New England Market, aiming to establish stronger relationships with retailers and create memorable experiences for consumers seeking high-quality non-alcoholic options.
“An overwhelming majority of NA beer is being consumed by beer drinkers, if we want to enable more people to have a Kit, we know we need to be where the beer drinker shops. Kit is lucky to have hired a talented and experienced team of beer sales managers to partner with our growing wholesaler network, which expands into CT with Northeast Beverage and the Capital Region with Saratoga Eagle in June. We couldn’t be more pleased to join these legacy houses who have been a mainstay in their markets for decades,” said Billy Keighley, General Manager of Kit.
Kit NA Brewing makes award-winning, craft-brewed non-alcoholic beer for everyone and every occasion. Available in three different flavors: On Your Mark (American Blonde), Get Set (IPA) and Here We Go (Hazy IPA), distribution spans across the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Central NY.
Happy Dad hard seltzer expands into Missouri and Wisconsin with Breakthru Beverage Group
Breakthru Beverage Group and Happy Dad Hard Seltzer announced that they have partnered in two new markets — Missouri and Wisconsin — to expand Happy Dad’s reach to more Midwest consumers. Breakthru currently represents the seltzer in Arizona and Illinois through its Trident division, where the distributor develops new and emerging brands that offer innovation in their category and connect with consumers with unique brand stories.
“Happy Dad is exactly the kind of brand partner we look for at Breakthru and we are thrilled to help them expand into two new markets this year,” said Drew Levinson, VP, business development, emerging craft brands, at Breakthru Beverage Group. “We connected with Happy Dad from the beginning based not just on the quality of their hard seltzer but also their personality and story. From the success we are seeing in Arizona and Illinois, we know consumers are connecting with them as well, and we look forward to seeing them take off in the Midwest.”
Happy Dad distinguishes itself from other hard seltzers with its low carbonation, the inclusion of electrolytes and its use of a regular can over the typical skinny can that seltzers are known for. When choosing Breakthru as its distributor partner for the expansion, Happy Dad cited Breakthru’s route-to-market strategy and collaborative process with growing brands as top benefits to the partnership.
“As we grow and expand into new markets, we know we need a great team on the ground that understands our incredible product and culture. Breakthru is that partner we need in Missouri and Wisconsin,” said Cofounder and CEO Sam Shahidi. “Breakthru has what it takes to use their Midwest presence to help us scale and take things to the next level, and we are excited to work with them on this expansion.”
Happy Dad Hard Seltzer was founded in June 2021 by Sam Shahidi, John Shahidi and Kyle Forgeard (Full Send Podcast) and operates out of Orange County, California. Happy Dad is an easy-to-drink hard seltzer with low carbonation and refreshing flavors, which has prompted sales to soar over 4.2 million 12-packs since launch. In addition to the success of sales, Happy Dad is one of the most followed alcohol brands on social with over 1.5 million followers. Happy Dad has been enjoyed by Elon Musk, Mark Cuban and Post Malone while strategic partnerships have been facilitated with comedian Druski, UFC star “Sugar” Sean O’Malley, and The Pivot Podcast with retired NFL Stars, Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder & Fred Taylor.
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