Beau’s to expand across Canada
Beau’s All Natural Brewing, based in Vankleek Hill, Ont., will expand distribution across Canada beginning this week.
Beau’s beer, including its popular Lug Tread ale, will be sold in Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick starting this week. Manitoba will get its first shipments of Beau’s next week, and Alberta and British Columbia can expect product within the month.
The rollout into all provinces will continue throughout 2016 — territorial expansion is projected for 2017.
Originally, Beau’s craft beer was only sold within a day’s drive of the brewery. It first expanded to Quebec last year under that model, but this month decided to abandon its local-only sales.
Beau’s national expansion has been in the works since last November, prompted by consumer demand and a company mission to become a voice for other Canadian craft breweries, said Steve Beauchesne, CEO of Beau’s Brewery.
“The bigger picture is about protecting craft beer,” he said. Beauchesne said he wants his company to be an expansion model for other craft breweries to increase sales while also staying true to craft beer’s defining feature: independence from the Canadian beer monoliths — Labatt, Molson and Sleeman.
The company has stuck to its family-owned roots and has remained fiercely independent despite multiple offers by investment companies to buy it, including one from overseas.
Beau’s started after Steve Beauchesne’s dad, Tim Beauchesne, suggested they start a brewery in his old textile factory 10 years ago. Beau’s has been running strong ever since.
Since 2006, Beau’s has hired 160 employees.
Beauchesne said that he expects to add about five more employees to the Beau’s family this year to help with the expansion.