• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • About Craft Brewing Business

Craft Brewing Business

Professional Insight, Unfiltered

  • News
  • Business & Marketing
  • Ingredients & Supplies
  • Packaging & Distribution
  • Equipment
  • Webinars & White Papers
  • COVID-19

Deschutes reduces workforce by 10 percent, puts Roanoke plans on hold, president and CEO explains

December 20, 2018Keith Gribbins

Deschutes2rke-dusk2Last week, we learned that Deschutes Brewery was joining a lot of other famous names in beer by reducing its workforce. Not only that, but Deschutes’ Roanoke, Va., facility and brewery, in planning since at least 2016, seems to be limbo. We reached out to Deschutes to ask about these two developments and also what exciting things were planned for the future. Deschutes Brewery President and CEO Michael LaLonde shared this with us.

CBB: We noticed that Deschutes recently had some layoffs and has announced it was putting its Virginia brewery plans on hold for now. Sorry to hear that. I wanted to reach out to see the extent of the layoffs. How many folks? What types of positions?

LaLonde: Deschutes just had a reduction in workforce of about 10 percent of our employee base across sales, marketing and operations. This was a hard decision based on the brewery not seeing the business results that were expected over the last two years. This decision was extremely difficult to make, but necessary for the brewery given current craft beer market conditions and trends.

What stage is the Roanoke brewery at these days, and how will the company approach that plan in the future? Is there a timetable?

In regard to a production facility in Roanoke, at this time, we will continue to watch trends for the right time to build a facility in Roanoke. We don’t foresee breaking ground in 2019 as originally planned, but we will meet our commitments to let the city of Roanoke know our updated plans.

These are trepidatious times in the beer industry, but maybe we could also talk about the company’s positive future prospects going forward. What are you excited about?

Recent trends are looking much better, and we’re seeing positive results with our newest release, Fresh Haze IPA. We’re excited about our plans for innovation in 2019 and the launch of many new brands including Da Shootz!, a low calorie/low ABV American Lager, a sour series launching in cans this spring and a new IPA in the fall.

upslope backcountry tap room
Guerrilla events: Pop up a tap room for your brewery wherever you can
Deschutes Street Pub
Deschutes Brewery tells us how to throw a kick ass party and give all the proceeds to charity
Victory Brewing Covaleski-In-Downingtown
Covaleski Down Under: Victory co-founder hits Melbourne Good Beer Week and goes New Zealand hop hunting
Oregon official state yeast.
Oregon — A state of the beer industry report

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • INDEVCO Plastics debuts 50 percent postconsumer recycled shrink wrap for beverage packaging
  • Clean air, clean beer: New Ingersoll Rand oil-less reciprocating air compressors are ideal for breweries (aeration to canning)
  • Self-pour beverage dispenser iPourIt says new three-year warranty is the most comprehensive coverage in the industry
  • Non-alcoholic beer brand Athletic Brewing closes $17M+ in funding with famous backers, selects Craft ERP, eyes big growth

Sign up for our newsletter

unsubscribe from list

Most Popular Today

Recent Features

  • Clean air, clean beer: New Ingersoll Rand oil-less reciprocating air compressors are ideal for breweries (aeration to canning)
    January 18, 2021
  • Non-alcoholic beer brand Athletic Brewing closes $17M+ in funding with famous backers, selects Craft ERP, eyes big growth
    January 18, 2021
  • Watch: This awareness video on human trafficking from beer wholesaler Markstein Sales will move you to action
    January 14, 2021
  • Distribution updates: Massachusetts brewers celebrate franchise reform, Yuengling goes to Texas with Molson Coors and more from Bell’s, Stone and beyond
    January 14, 2021
  • COVID19 coronavirus mask moneyWhy you need to maximize engagement during a pandemic
    January 13, 2021
  • How the Employee Retention Credit can help breweries that paid employees during the pandemic
    January 12, 2021

Footer

  • Email Newsletter Sign Up
  • About Craft Brewing Business
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise on Craft Brewing Business
  • Media Kit Download
  • Privacy and Terms

© 2021 · CBB Media LLC

Continue ...

sponsored by