Michael speaks with Matt Hopkins, Executive Director at Independent Brewers Alliance about their efforts to form a Co-OP for smaller brewers - strength in numbers!

http://www.brewersalliance.org/

The Independent Brewers Alliance saves member breweries money on raw materials including cans and lids, bottles, kegs and cartons – and on operational expenses like freight, office supplies and payroll processing. We do it by leveraging the combined buying power of our members to negotiate long-term savings with leading industry suppliers. We bring the deals to you. You plug into those that are right for your brewery. Recoup your cost of membership and more with as little as one savings program. If you’re not satisfied in your first year, we’ll refund your membership costs in full.

The IBA is currently accepting applications from qualified craft brewers. Membership is limited. Feel free to explore this site and to contact us with any questions. If you’re ready to apply just fill out our no-obligation membership application.


1. Leveraging buying power. This could come in the form of lower costs, access guarantees or lower order minimums, for example.

2. Growing business. This is stuff like distribution support, expanded capacity, etc.

3. Maximizing operations. You focus on brewing, while the co-op helps you get better back office rates on warehouse supplies, freight costs, credit card rates, etc.

Legal aid
HR support
Quality assurance and testing
Discounts on energy
Discounts on credit card rates
Discounts on malts, hops, cans, bottles, kegs
Website design
Social media and blog support
Marketing materials
Brewing capacity
Discounted access to expert outside capacity
Getting taps
Getting shelf space (the most votes)

How you can get involved

The Independent Brewers Alliance definitely needs size — the goal is to represent 1 million bbls of buying power within the first 24 months (which would require some sizable regional players), with hopefully 300 to 400 members as the goal, preferably in that 5,000 to 50,000 bbls range.

But a strong purchasing group needs quality as much as quantity. Vendors will want to know what the Independent Brewers Alliance stands for. The value of the co-op, from the vendors perspective, isn’t just in negotiating a discounting for volume, but in being a preferred vendor to a substantial group of outstanding, trustworthy companies.


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Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NH

Michael Potorti
Founder/Brewer
Host of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcast
michael@craftbeerstorm.com
michael@bearairishbrew.com

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