Did you know that all those microbreweries and distilleries sprouting up around Western New York are part of a manufacturing renaissance? Often thought to be part of the hospitality industry, producers of artisanal alcoholic beverages are really considered to be part of the manufacturing sector of the economy, like any other food producer, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Producers of craft beer, wine, mead, hard cider, kombucha and spirits have been experiencing heady growth as consumer tastes shift to appreciate new and different types of beverages and outdated rules and regulations are modernized. The chart below shows the steady growth of U.S. establishments producing alcoholic beverages.
And that growth translates into increased employment. The chart below shows how employment growth among breweries, wineries and distilleries is near the top relative to other manufacturing industries.
WNY has been an active participant in this sector’s growth with numerous thriving businesses throughout our region, including: Flying Bison Brewing Co., a micro pioneer, Community Beer Works, Bootleg Bucha, Hamburg Brewing Company, 42 North Brewing Company, Brickyard Brewing Company, Big Inlet Brewing, Lakeward Spirits, Buffalo Distilling Company and Tommyrotter Distillery. We even have a national presence thanks to our client Southern Tier Brewing’s success. Cheers!
Bob Kosobucki, a member of the Insyte team since 2003, specializes in helping companies strategize, plan and implement revenue growth. His experience includes VP positions in domestic and international sales and marketing, business unit management, engineering and operations with private, public and start-up companies in Silicon Valley, Austin, Dallas and Rochester. He is a licensed Professional Engineer and earned a BSEE from Cornell University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.
