Skip to content

Wellington Brewery gets $184,000 to help increase production

Federal and provincial grant helps fund Guelph craft brewery in process of quadrupling its capacity
20160830 wellington brewery ts
Guelph MP Lloyd Longfield, MPP Liz Sandals and Wellington Brewery Vice-President Brent Davies announce $184,000 in funding for the brewery to help with production expansion Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. Tony Saxon/GuelphToday

Guelph's Wellington Brewery is getting a helping hand from the Federal and provincial governments to help them grow.

Guelph MP Lloyd Longfield and MPP Liz Sandals were on hand at the brewery's Woodlawn Road location Tuesday to announce the brewery has received $184,000 to help increase production.

Most of the money goes to a new automated canning line and the rest to equipment aimed at increasing automation and capacity.

"Everything we've done is geared towards increasing our capacity, both now and down the road," said Wellington Brewery vice-president Brent Davies.

The brewery, which was founded in 1985, is currently wrapping up a significant  expansion that will see it increase its production capacity from 25,000 hectolitres to 100,000 hectolitres.

"Guelph is the beer capital of Canada. Now we've got more evidence," said Longfield. "This is a local business that uses local contractors."

Wellington Brewery employees 50 full and part-time employees.

Sandals said the funding is part of the provincial government's commitment to growing the agri-food industry and the craft beer industry.

"Craft beer is an important part of the agri-food sector and I don't think people always think of it that way," she said.

"It employs over 1,300 people and generated more than $68 million in sales at the LCBO."

New regulations making craft beer more accessible and prominent in beer stores, liquor stores and grocery stores will only add to those totals, she said.

There are roughly 150 craft breweries in Ontario.

"As an industry, we are convinced that craft beer will continue to grow," Sandals said.

The full text of a release from MPP Liz Sandals follows.

*************************
The Ontario government and the Government of Canada invested over $183,000 in Wellington County Brewery lnc. to help the company expand operations and to continue to grow the province's craft beer industry.

Wellington County Brewery lnc. has received $183,514 to:

  • Install a new automated canning line in the new facility and
  • lnvest in strategic processing equipment to increase automation and improve labour productivity and efficiency with an aim of increasing output for meeting consumer demand

The investment in Wellington County Brewery lnc. is part of a $1.6 million investment through Growing Forward 2 that includes 42 projects at 20 craft breweries.

This funding is delivered jointly by the federal and provincial governments through Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative that supports programs aimed at improving innovation, competitiveness, market development, adaptability and industry sustainability in Canada's agri-food and agri-products sectors.

These investments help achieve the federal government's goal to encourage the agricultural and agri-food sector in a way that allows it to be a leader in job creation and innovation

Providing more opportunities for small brewers is part of the Ontario government's economic plan to deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs.

The four-part plan includes investing in talent and skills, including helping more people get and create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education.

Through this plan, the government is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario's history and investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses.

The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.

Quotes

"Craft brewers like Wellington County Brewery are gaining a growing share of Ontario beer sales. Our government is pleased to support this growth with initiatives that support increased access to retail locations for craft brewers and funding programs like Growing Forward 2."

-Liz Sandals, MPP for Guelph

"Guelph has a long standing tradition of converting our excellent well water into craft beer. The people at Wellington work not only on their excellent product but also share talent and space with other local brewers. Wellington has also been a wonderful Iocal sponsor of Guelph events and associations, showing their family approach and commitment to our community and their industry with everything they do."

- Lloyd Longfield, MP for Guelph

"Ontario's craft beer industry is a great success story for this province. Craft brewers continue to build on new market opportunities in the production and sale of a range of premium quality beers."

- Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

"Ontario's craft beer industry is rapidly growing, exposing consumers to the premium quality and culture of beer made with locally-sourced ingredients. By supporting our small brewers to grow, we are supporting local communities and Ontario's economy while building on the industry's booming success."

- Jeff Leal, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs QUICK FACTS

Learn more

Craft beer is a rapidly expanding industry in Ontario, employing more than 1,500 people in direct brewery jobs, and generating more than $69 million in sales last year at the LCBO.

New opportunities for the sale of beer are being created in groceries stores across Ontario. Currently, there are approximately 140 craft breweries currently operating across Ontario, approximately 70 of which sell product via the LCBO network.

This sector has seen significant year-over-year increases in revenues-up nearly 35 percent annually in 2015-2016.

Since 2013, the governments of Canada and Ontario have committed more than $38 million to more than 750 projects for food, beverage and processor businesses through Growing Forward 2 cost-shared funding assistance.

Growing Forward 2 in Ontario

*************************


Comments

Verified reader

If you would like to apply to become a verified commenter, please fill out this form.




Tony Saxon

About the Author: Tony Saxon

Tony Saxon has had a rich and varied 30 year career as a journalist, an award winning correspondent, columnist, reporter, feature writer and photographer.
Read more