Firestone Walker has hired Tony Amaral as chief sales officer, the Paso Robles, California-headquartered craft brewery announced late Friday.
Amaral, a 30-year beer industry veteran, had served as head of sales for Heineken-owned Lagunitas Brewing since April 2021. He joined the Petaluma, California-headquartered brewery in 2016, working in sales and distributor management roles.
“Tony comes to us with a suitcase full of insight, deep relationships and familiar beer instincts,” COO Nick Firestone said in a press release. “His addition to the team strengthens our ability to win share and helps unlock the full potential of our brands.”
Year-to-date (YTD) through June 18, Firestone Walker’s off-premise dollar sales have declined -9.5%, to $47.4 million, while its case sales (volume) have declined -13.5%, according to market research firm Circana. Firestone Walker’s share of beer category dollar sales stands at 0.23%, down -0.03%, compared to the same period in 2022.
Firestone Walker’s best-selling beer, 805, is the 10th best-selling craft beer YTD in off-premise retailers tracked by Circana. The brand’s sales through mid-June have declined -7%, to nearly $30 million, while volume has dipped -11.8%, according to the firm. Sales have improved over the last four weeks as summer began, increasing +0.3%, to nearly $5.6 million, while case sales are down -1.6%, per the firm.
In 2022, Firestone Walker’s volume declined -3%, to 511,210 barrels of beer, according to data in the Brewers Association’s New Brewer Magazine. The Paso Robles, California-headquartered brewery ranked as the fourth-largest BA-defined craft brewery by volume as part of Duvel Moortgat USA, with Boulevard Brewing and Brewery Ommegang, collectively producing 688,210 barrels of beer in 2022.