Dexter-based Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales is growing by capitalizing on a number of revenue streams. This includes adding tap rooms across Michigan and opening up more distribution channels for its popular beers.
Jolly Pumpkin opened new tap rooms in its Dexter home last year and in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood last April, where it employs about 50 people.The artisan ales company currently has four tap rooms across Michigan is looking to open a few more.
"We will continue to find new locations and open up Jolly Pumpkin tap rooms in Michigan," says Ron Jeffries, founder of
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales.
It's part of Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales' plan to focus its growth in the Great Lakes State. Its distribution in Michigan is up 70 percent over the last year. The 11-year-old brewery is aiming to produce 12,000 barrels of beer this year, which would be up from 8,000 barrels in 2014.
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales is pushing to sell more of its upscale brews in chain retailers. The brand is currently in a number of super markets, like Busches, Whole Foods and Kroger, but it is looking to add more chain restaurants to its distribution roster.
"Our sales team have been making great strides for us," Jeffries says.
The growth has allowed Jolly Pumpkin to hire more and more people. It currently has a employee base of just more than 200 with its tap rooms. A staff of 25 people mans the brewery in Dexter after hiring three people in the last year, and it's looking to hire three more now.
"We are currently looking for more people," Jeffries says. "We have been interviewing people for the last month."
Source: Ron Jeffries, founder of Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
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