Pelican Brands Acquires The Napa Smith Brewery

September 19, 2010 / by J Smoke Wallin / Make A Comment / Filed under Brand Management, Distributors, News, Pelican Brands

I’m pleased to share the following announcement.  Napa Smith beer is on fire in our march to a national roll-out.  We love this brand and believe it has a very strong future.

FOR RELEASE Monday 20 September 2010

Media contact:

Megan Hochstetler

001-317-574-6407

Pelican Brands Announces Acquisition Of Napa Smith Brewery

Napa, CA & Carmel, IN USA – September 17, 2010 – Pelican Brands is pleased to announce it has entered into an exclusive purchase agreement to acquire the Napa Smith Brewery & Winery.  The purchase includes seven acres of land and 50,000 sq.ft. of production, warehousing and office space.  Earlier this year, Napa Smith appointed Pelican Brands as its exclusive sales representatives in the United States.

J. Smoke Wallin, Chairman & CEO of Pelican Brands said, “The craft beer business is the fastest growing category of beverages in America.  Much of the new demand is being met by small local brewers.  It is our belief that while a few will become regional brands, a very select few will become national brands.  Napa Smith has all the right brand attributes – amazing beer from one of the most respected names in the craft brewing industry, distinctive packaging, and Napa terroir – to become one of those few select national brands.”  Wallin continued, “This acquisition is a perfect strategic fit for Pelican Brands in building a global sales and brand platform of both owned and agency brands.   The Pelican team looks forward to building Napa Smith into an iconic craft beer brand with President Steve Morgan and Master Brewer Don Barkley.”

Steve Morgan, President of Napa Smith stated, “This is an exciting day for the Napa Smith business and for the community.  In the past ninety days, Napa Smith through Pelican’s platform has expanded into eight new states.  Before the end of the year, we will add additional states making Napa Smith available from the Pacific all the way to the Atlantic.  Napa Smith will be available nationwide by mid 2011.  Pelican Brands will provide the growth capital needed for further expansion.  Napa’s winemakers made the Napa Valley into a global name and destination.  We are proud to continue this tradition by bringing beer – brewed with the same level of quality and attention to detail – to discerning consumers everywhere.”

Don Barkley, Master Brewer said, “I’m doing what I love to do – brewing great beer.  Smoke and the whole Pelican team are my kind of people.  They appreciate the importance of brewing beer right.  At the same time, they bring scale and resources that will help Napa Smith reach many more thirsty consumers, something I’m passionate about!”

About Napa Smith Brewery

Napa Smith Brewery is located at the southern gateway to Napa Valley, just south of the town of Napa. Napa Valley is internationally known as a destination for those individuals who seek the best that life has to offer. Napa Smith is proud to contribute to the Napa tradition of hard work, craftsmanship, and artistry with the introduction of its unique family of beers. It creates its beers using proprietary recipes developed by Master Brewer Don Barkley – a veteran of 30+ years in the craft brewing industry.   Much of the Napa’s growth has been fueled by its Signature Series of beers.  Offered in 4-packs, 22 oz bottles, and draught, Organic IPA and Lost Dog Red Ale have attracted national interest from both distributors and chains. Napa Smith Amber Ale, Napa Smith Pale Ale, and Napa Smith Lost Dog Red Ale are all recipients of gold medals at the California State Fair.  www.napasmithbrewery.com

About Pelican Brands

Pelican Brands was formed to nurture and build brands in the global beverage alcohol space.  Our portfolio includes incredible hand crafted wines, spirits and beer including Thailand’s #1 export, Singha Beer.  Pelican Brands’ team and partners have extensive experience in the global beverage and consumer packaged goods industries.  www.pelican-brands.com Pelican Brands is headquartered in Carmel, IN, and offices in the United Kingdom with a sales team covering the U.S. market.

Napa Smith Appoints Pelican Brands As Exclusive U.S. Brand Manager For Its Award Winning Craft Beer Portfolio And Its World Class Napa Wine Program

March 23, 2010 / by J Smoke Wallin / Make A Comment / Filed under Brand Management, Distributors, New Products - Brands, News, Pelican Brands

I’m pleased to share with you our latest announcement from my Pelican Brands company.  In 2009 the craft beer segment outpaced all others and grew on a volume basis over 5%.  We have been looking for the right premium craft brands to fit into our growing brand platform.  Napa Smith is the perfect fit!  More on this later, for now, here is our Press Release.

Regards,

Smoke

Napa Smith Brews Hand Crafted Ultra Premium Beers in Napa Valley

Pelican Brands is Led by an Experienced Team from the Global Beverage Industry

Napa, CA & Carmel, IN, USA – March 23, 2010 – In partnership with Napa Smith Brewery, Pelican Brands today confirmed its appointment as the exclusive brand manager for Napa Smith’s craft beer portfolio in the U.S. market.  Napa Smith Brewery is Napa’s pre-eminent craft beer brewery and is dedicated to maintaining the traditions of the region for producing the highest quality goods.  Napa Smith is proud to feature the beers of America’s most experienced craft brewer – Don Barkley.  Don started making craft beer in 1978 at New Albion Brewery, America’s first new brewery since Prohibition.  He went on to help found Mendocino Brewing Company, where he became an icon in the industry creating such legendary beers as Red Tail Ale and Eye of the Hawk.  Pelican Brands is a brand management company dedicated to nurturing and building brands in the global beverage industry.

Napa Smith Beer

This deal follows Pelican Brands’ previous announcement of its exclusive U.S. rights to the brand management of Singha beer, Thailand’s no.1 export beer.  Pelican currently manages the Singha business through distribution in all 50 U.S. states.

“The appointment of Pelican Brands represents a very important step for the development of Napa Smith as we expand beyond California.  We expect Pelican Brands to add invaluable insight and experience to the development and implementation of our brand strategy in the coming years,” said Greg Cutuli, Owner of Napa Smith Brewery. “We have been impressed by Pelican Brands on all fronts, and we are delighted to have been able to attract such a strong partner.”

J. Smoke Wallin, Chairman of Pelican Brands, said, “We have been searching for the right brand partners as we seek to expand the Pelican Brands portfolio.   We look for a distinct brand proposition, extraordinary product quality and people we want to do business with for the long term.  In Napa Smith Brewery we believe we have found just such a partner. The bottom line is this – Napa Smith brews awesome beer!”

“The addition of Napa Smith to our portfolio is a wonderful opportunity for Pelican,” said Mark Smith, Pelican Brands Vice President of Marketing, a marketing veteran of the global beer industry. “The beer is great and is backed up by fantastic branding and a very cool story: we know that beer lovers across the country will be engaged and keen to get their hands on a beer from the home of artisan beverage making in the U.S.”

Napa Smith Beer - Six Packs

Pelican Brands is dedicated to taking full advantage of the opportunities in the marketplace for each brand they represent.  Pelican provides its brands with the marketing support and senior level attention necessary to enhance each brand’s market position, leverages their industry relationships to expand distribution, and successfully launches line extensions and new products.

“Napa Smith has already proven itself with the Northern California consumer.  Our newest offering is the exciting Napa Smith Organic IPA that is taking the market by storm.  We are pleased to be able to team up with the Pelican team to bring our brand to an ever larger base of beer lovers,” said Steve Morgan, President of Napa Smith.

“We are excited by the opportunity that Napa Smith presents,” said Don C. Hammond, President of Pelican Brands. “The craft beer segment is extremely competitive but continues to demonstrate significant growth. I know that our partners nationwide, be they distributors or retailers, will be just as enthused as we are when they learn the Napa Smith story.” Mr. Hammond, who has extensive experience running major beer wholesalers, continued, “Our task is to nurture this brand as we expand its footprint. We will focus on developing value through achieving long term growth and we will do this with some of the finest distribution partners in the US beer business.”

Napa Smith Organic IPA

About Napa Smith Brewery

Napa Smith Brewery is located at the southern gateway to Napa Valley, just south of the town of Napa. Napa Valley is internationally known as a destination for those individuals who seek the best that life has to offer. Napa Smith is proud to contribute to the Napa tradition of hard work, craftsmanship, and artistry with the introduction of its unique family of beers. It creates its beers using proprietary recipes developed by Master Brewer Don Barkley – a veteran of 30+ years in the craft brewing industry. www.napasmithbrewery.com

About Pelican Brands

Pelican Brands was formed to nurture and build brands in the global beverage alcohol space.  Pelican Brands’ team and partners have extensive experience in the global beverage and consumer packaged goods industries.   Pelican Brands is headquartered in Carmel, IN with offices in the United Kingdom with a sales team covering the U.S. market.  Pelican’s beer brands include Thailand’s #1 export, Singha Beer www.singhabeer.com and Napa, CA’s award winning craft beers from Napa Smith Brewery.  www.pelican-brands.com

WITS 2008 Announcement

April 16, 2008 / by J Smoke Wallin / Make A Comment / Filed under 2008 Event, About and Contact, News, WITS Happenings

Industry Leaders, Technology Experts to Gather at Fourth Annual
Wine Industry Technology Symposium on July 14-15, 2008
April 15, 2008, Napa, CA  – Wine Industry Technology Symposium (WITS)®, the premier event showcasing strategic use of information technology and services for the wine industry, will hold its fourth annual conference July 14-15, 2008 at the Marriot Napa Valley. www.wineindustrytechnologysymposium.com
Join executives from wineries, distributors and retailers at the only annual conference designed exclusively to foster education and debate around the application of technology solutions for the wine industry. Following the keynote general session, expert panels will discuss case studies and issues grouped into the following four tracks:

• Track A: Executive & Technology Leadership
• Track B: Consumer Direct
• Track C: Trade Sales & Marketing
• Track D: Vineyard & Winery Operations

“In this uncertain economic environment, it is vital to get it right when it comes to your route to market and the strategic and tactical use of enabling technology,” said J. Smoke Wallin, WITS Co-Chair.  “WITS is the only place where winery owners and GMs can sit side by side for a day of learning and discussion with CIOs and other technology leaders from the across the three tiers and the technology community,” he added.
The WITS Steering Committee, made up of technology and business leaders across the wine industry, is currently finalizing panel topics and speakers.  Past speakers have included the CIOs of FedEx Kinkos and 1800-Flowers, as well as experts from IBM, Oracle and Cornell University.

Sign up early in order to guarantee a spot at this year’s conference.  There are a limited number of spots available and last year’s event sold out quickly. For more information and to register, visit www.wineindustrytechnologysymposium.com. 

About The Wine Industry Technology Symposium (WITS)