We now know who will lead the next chapter of New Belgium Brewing. Chief marketing officer Shaun Belongie has been named the next CEO of New Belgium, effective immediately, taking the spot left vacant by Steve Fechheimer earlier this year.
2022 marked a record year for New Belgium Brewing Company, as the Fort Collins, Colorado-headquartered craft brewery’s volume topped 1.2 million barrels (+15% year-over-year), driven by the continued success of the Voodoo Ranger IPA portfolio, New Belgium CEO Steve Fechheimer shared. Meanwhile, Bell’s Brewery declined around -8%, to just shy of 450,000 barrels.
New Belgium’s Voodoo Ranger Juice Force is the No. 1 craft beer launch ever, New Belgium CEO Steve Fechheimer shared during a recent update following the company’s wholesaler meetings. Along with Voodoo Ranger, New Belgium’s core four for 2023 includes Fat Tire, Bell’s Two Hearted Ale and Oberon.
New Belgium Brewing, in partnership with HospitableMe, a firm specializing in diversity, equity and inclusion training, will launch the Poured For All Initiative this fall, a free safety and inclusion training program for all bars and restaurants aimed at welcoming underrepresented communities into craft beer.
New Belgium Brewing Company is making its biggest investment yet behind a Voodoo Ranger brand with the launch of Juice Force, a year-round hazy imperial IPA. Dave Knospe, Voodoo Ranger brand manager, told Brewbound that New Belgium is investing more than $1 million in media for Juice Force (9.5% ABV), which is rolling out now.
New Belgium Brewing Company began notifying Bell’s Brewery wholesalers on Monday of plans to consolidate the portfolio with the Reyes Beer Division in several markets outside of Michigan.
Following the acquisition of Bell’s Brewery earlier this week, Lion Little World Beverages said managing director Matt Tapper will exit the company next year after a 25-year career, and New Belgium CEO Steve Fechheimer will lead the company’s U.S. craft brewery platform.
Kirin-owned Lion Little World Beverages has struck a deal to acquire Bell’s Brewery, the second largest craft brewery in Michigan and the seventh largest Brewers Association-defined craft brewery by volume in 2020.
The Voodoo Ranger franchise now accounts for 65% of New Belgium’s business. CEO Steve Fechheimer again highlighted the shift in the Fort Collins, Colorado-headquartered craft brewery’s priorities during the National Beer Wholesalers Association’s (NBWA) annual meeting last week.
