A new brewing collective in the USA has been launched with the aim of “pairing strong brands with the infrastructure they need to reach their potential”.
True North Beverage has been formed following Fulton Brewing’s acquisition of Bemidji Brewing Company.
The new Minnesota-based collective has been built to give locally rooted craft beverage brands shared resources for growth. Consolidation that is taking place in other markets across the globe such as the UK, too.
According to those involved, True North Beverage also offers a potential model for other established beverage producers navigating rising production costs, changing consumer preferences, increased competition and regulatory uncertainty across emerging beverage categories.
The company expects future partnerships to follow a similar approach, giving brands access to production capacity, sales expertise, marketing support, purchasing power and administrative resources while retaining the qualities that distinguish them in the marketplace, they said.
“Our belief is simple: Minnesota has built some incredible beverage brands, and they deserve the opportunity to grow without losing what made them special in the first place,” said Ryan Petz, CEO of Fulton Brewing and True North Beverage.
“Our work with Bemidji Brewing showed us what is possible when complementary businesses share resources and expertise. True North Beverage is designed to build on that model.”
Through True North Beverage, Bemidji Brewing will receive expanded production, sales, marketing and distribution support, creating opportunities for broader availability across Minnesota, including a stronger presence in the “Twin Cities”.
“This isn’t about reinventing beloved brands,” Petz added. “It’s about pairing strong brands with the infrastructure they need to reach their potential. Bemidji Brewing had opportunities for growth that exceeded its available production capacity, and Fulton had the capacity and expertise to help meet that demand. It is an ideal fit for both organizations.”
