It might not be the biggest or most influential (yet), but the portfolio of craft breweries that includes Oskar Blues Brewery, Perrin, Cigar City, and Squatters and Wasatch is now officially the best named. Previously under the yawner Oskar Blues Holdings, the group shall hence forth be known as CANarchy “to better reflect the goal of the collective — challenging corporate convention to preserve the craft beer category,” so says the group in its announcement.
Partially funded by Fireman Capital Partners, CANarchy provides a platform for smaller craft breweries seeking high level resources and experience to expand and compete in the increasingly competitive craft beer segment, while maintaining independence, it says.
“CANarchy has increased our production to meet the growing demand of Cigar City beers and expanded our out-of-state distribution to get our Florida born beers into the hands of more craft beer drinkers,” said Justin Clark, Cigar City Brewing COO.
CANarchy says its strength in relationships with raw ingredient producers extends focus on flavor innovation and beer quality. The platform provides capacity and access to brewing equipment to scale more efficiently and economically. With 15 years’ experience in cans, CANarchy says it supports member breweries on can line installation, maintenance and optimization to compete in the fastest growing segment of craft beer. Finally, CANarchy provides brewers opportunity for expansion through already developed and supported national distribution networks.
Green Flash CEO explains 2018 distribution strategy, ditching 22-ounce bottles
“The collective experience of CANarchy allowed us to implement a canning line nearly overnight, expanding our core brands beyond the tap and strengthening Perrin across the Midwest,” said Keith Klopcic, Perrin Brewing CEO.
CANarchy notes that its portfolio of breweries have all shown solid growth and sales since joining the collective:
- Dale’s Pale Ale, the Oskar Blues flagship that celebrated 15 years in a CAN this year, is showing solid growth of +9.6 percent YTD and +17.1 percent in the previous 13 weeks in Total US Multi-Outlet + Convenience with trends accelerating since the summer months.
- Cigar City, which is now sold in 12 states and growing, continues to be a juggernaut and is led by trends on Jai Alai IPA, the No. 1 Craft 6-pack can in Total US MULO+C, of 57.6 percent YTD and +50.3 percent in the previous 13 weeks.
- Perrin Brewing has established itself as a major player in the Midwest, led by 20 percent growth in MI Food YTD and +22.1 percent in IRI’s Great Lakes Region YTD.
- The Squatter’s and Wasatch brands, which have been quietly defying odds with great beers since the 1980s, are seeing trends of +19.8 percent and +16.3 percent on its flagship brands, Hop Rising Double IPA and Apricot Hefeweizen, all while transitioning all packaging to cans.
