The craft beer industry is constantly changing and competition is fierce everywhere you turn. Breweries are opening and closing everyday, so how does one stand out from the crowd? Today, we discuss a number of everyday activities that can be done to help maximize growth in a strategic fashion. We can’t just rely on making good beer anymore. We’ll explore topics such as “knowing your why” and then explore the business side. These items include ordering efficiently and understanding landed costs, ingredient utilization/efficiency, maximizing batch yield/equipment utilization, packaging splits/sales, and understanding profitability through your COGS.

Alex Labonge was born & raised in North Carolina. He is an alumni of Grimsley High School and UNC-Wilmington, and currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is a former swimmer and grilling enthusiast and recently became a father. His first craft beer was Natty Green’s Freedom IPA, and North Carolina beer holds a special place in his heart. Alex has spent 8 years with Next Glass, and currently is a Solutions Consultant supporting the Brewery Solutions team. While coming from outside of industry initially, Alex brings valuable experience after thousands of conversations with brewery owners around the world.

Harrison Hickok was born & raised in New England and currently lives in Wilmington, NC. He spent 8 years working for breweries between Connecticut and Philadelphia and held many roles, including Assistant Brewer, Shift Lead, Assistant Barrel Master, Brand Ambassador, and Cellarmen. Harrison has held a number of roles with Next Glass, and is currently an Account Executive with the Brewery Solutions team. His first craft beer ever was the Dogfish Head Aprihop.