Brewery embarks on 'new era'

Tue, Apr 2nd 2013, 11:05 AM

The Bahamian Brewery & Beverage Company is looking to open two more retail outlets this year following the grand opening of its Nassau headquarters.
While the brewery and nerve center will remain in Grand Bahama, the launch of a $1.6 million facility on Nassau Street is being seen as a major step in the company's development.
Jimmy Sands, founder of the brewery, said the opening is a sign that the all-Bahamian company is here to stay.
"We're now entering a new era," he told Guardian Business.
"Before we didn't have any flagship or considerable space in town, and now he have one. You need to feed all of our shops. And I have a couple more in mind for 2013."
The Nassau Street building, containing nearly 20 employees, serves as an administration building, warehouse, liquor store and distribution house.
"It means a lot to our network," said Lynden Johnson, the head of sales and marketing. "When you look at where we were operating out of Wulff Road, it is night and day. We can distribute more, hold more inventory and expand our product lines."
In recognition of being a title sponsor of last weekend's CARIFTA Games in Nassau, the Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Company is launching canned versions of Strong Back Stout and Triple B Malt. The brewery snagged a spot as the official beer and beverage sponsor for CARIFTA over Commonwealth Brewery Limited (CBB), which is majority owned by Heineken.
Sands told Guardian Business that it allows the company to support Bahamians athletes while hammering home its "truly Bahamian" reputation.
"I also wanted to be part of the new stadium. It's very impressive," he said. "It is the first big event they'll conduct there, and we're a part of it. It also gives us a chance to market our Triple B Malt a bit more. We have never done any big push with it. And this is a youth and athletic event, so we saw it as a good opportunity."
The company's nationalist appeal has been its main tactic and selling point with resorts as well.
In addition to its exclusive agreement with Virgil's at Atlantis, the Bahamian Beverage & Brewery Company recently announced a partnership with the Bimini Big Game Club to supply a special beer on tap.
As for its retail presence, the Nassau headquarters represents its seventh outlet in the country.
Sands would not disclose whether the additional two stores this year would open in Nassau elsewhere in The Bahamas. Sands and CBB have been locked in fierce competition in recent years, as he attempts to gradually chip away at the market.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian

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