News Release
Fredericton Based Picaroons Expand
August 28, 2009
A $30,000 grant from Business New Brunswick will help send bottles of locally brewed beer to new markets around the globe
Sean Dunbar, the owner of the Northampton Brewing Company and brewmaster behind Picaroons beer, showed Business New Brunswick Minister Victor Boudreau and Fredericton-Fort Nashwaak MLA Kelly Lamrock around the Melissa Street facility Thursday.
Dunbar said the money will help the brewery send its Picaroons Traditional Ales products outside the province.
"We've invested in labeling technology that will allow us to meet national standards," he said.
"We'll also be able to literally buy equipment that we can load a truck with. Hand-loading cases has been the way we've done things in the scale of operation that we've had, so we're growing up a bit. We'll be able to do things in a larger and more efficient manner."
He said the funding, which is provided through the New Brunswick Growth Program, will allow the company to explore new sales markets.
"It feels very good to have somebody say to you 'We want to sell your beer in Scandinavia,' " he said. "And we'd love to be able to do that if the opportunity arises."
Dunbar said hundreds of suppliers have requested his suds over the years, but it hasn't been financially prudent to export his products until now.
He said beer industry representatives from several Scandinavian markets and throughout the northeastern United States have shown interest.
"As far as international markets, those are the ones that we'll concentrate on," he said.
"We have done a couple of trade missions to the New England area and those were extremely positive. Unfortunately, it's tough to sit at a table and come back and have someone want your beer and go through the numbers and figure out you can't possibly do it. Now we can."
The brewery generates 3,000 hectalitres of beer per year, distributed in a dozen different brands and styles.
The brewery shipped beer out of the province for the first time earlier this week, sending a load of promotional bottles to Nova Scotia.
Dunbar said the funding is the first part of an upgrading process that will see the brewery improve its equipment and tank space.
He said the changes are necessary because the brewery has reached its capacity at its site.
"It's sort of the chicken and egg thing," he said.
"There's not much point in expanding the brewery unless you have the ability to ship the beer that you're going to make."
Boudreau said that in the past few years the New Brunswick Growth Program has assisted more than 85 companies maintain staff, expand services and grow distribution.
"Our government has worked hard to support companies across the province and to help them be more productive and successful in an increasingly competitive business environment," he said.
Dunbar said the brewery will expand slowly, working to satisfy new markets while maintaining its existing clientele across the province.
"We have to be cognizant that we can only make so much beer and we certainly do not want to disrupt the flow of beer to New Brunswickers," he said.
By ADAM BOWIE
bowie.adam@dailygleaner.com
August 28th,2009