Beernews.org obtained a statement from Anchor Brewing CEO, Keith Greggor, early this evening. The statement is in response to this week’s news that Boston Beer Co. is suing Anchor and one of its employees for violating a noncompete agreement.
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On September 27, it was surprising and disappointing to learn from the media that Boston Beer is suing Anchor Brewing over hiring Judd Hausner. We had not received the actual complaint and considered it unusual that Boston Beer would publicize their action this way. On September 28, we received the complaint while Boston Beer continued their related PR campaign through the media with a direct statement from their Founder. We consider their action and comments harmful to the good reputation of Anchor and thus feel obliged to issue a statement ourselves. Receiving this heavy handed action from a company 20 times bigger than our own is intimidating but we remain undaunted in this challenge.
On September 26, Anchor hired Judd Hausner to fill the position of sales manager. In this role, he will locally manage our distributors in Marin/Sonoma/Napa along with account participation in the city of San Francisco. He was hired based on his local reputation within the trade as a hard and smart worker. Anchor in no way financially enticed Judd to resign from Boston Beer. Anchor has no interest in, or need of, any proprietary information that Judd may have. Indeed, Boston Beer in their complaint professes to compete in the “better beer” category which they say constitutes 20% of the total US beer business. Anchor competes in the craft beer category which is 5% of total US beer.
In addition to suing Anchor, Boston Beer is suing Judd Hausner, a resident of San Francisco, in the courts of Massachusetts. Judd, who is in his mid-20’s, is naturally distressed and worried about the financial hardships he faces let alone the impact this may have on his career. Anchor continues to compensate Judd and has asked him to take leave during this dispute.
Anchor contends that it acted appropriately and is shocked that in 2011 there are companies still attempting to lock in employees through dubious non-competes.
For more than 40 years Anchor Brewing has set the standard for open and collegial collaboration among the fraternity that is American craft brewing. Not surprisingly, Anchor finds it ironic that Boston Beer feels their training is so special and unique. We think they must have short memories of the time they spent here at Anchor gaining first-hand knowledge of how craft beer was working.
Keith Greggor
Owner & CEO, Anchor Brewing Company
Zing. Very well put. I hope for the best for Anchor and Judd.
Never was a huge fan of Anchor—sure, I can appreciate a cold Anchor Steam—but my respect for Keith Greggor and his brewery just went through the roof.
I’ll never touch another Sam Adams in my life now.
Doesn’t really change anything. Non competes exist, he signed one, they violated it. Pretty clear contract violation and despite it being “dirty” that Sam Adams is suing over it; that’s why non-competes are used; no excuse for it.
Now we know why everyone HATES Sam Adams
Sam Adams is the Big Bully on the Block. I think they’re playing out of the Budweiser Play Book. STFU and let the Kid go work for Anchor…… A true CRAFT BREWER!!!!
Non-compete clauses are unenforceable…nice move suing him in Massachusetts. If Boston Beer Co. was really so great they would just cut their losses and move on.
What’s f’d-up is that countless employees from BB have signed this non-compete in the past…some have been given a “pass” to work at other breweries and others have not. They can’t pick and choose to enforce based on scenarios they feel have a greater impact on sales, etc. Enforce 100% or don’t. Too late to pull something like this. In the end though, YOU CAN’T PREVENT SOMEONE FROM MAKING A LIVING. These guys aren’t any different from the money-hungry macros. On a completely separate note, I’ve never had an acceptable bottled version of their beer.
Hey Jim Koch…… Whaaaaaaaaaa
bam! jim just got bitch-slapped. sam adams is NOT craft beer. long live craft beer. my hat is tipped to the original micro brewery. keep on keepin on, new owners.
Anchor is owned by a Hedge Fund, Fritz sold out. Chew on them hops.
Keith Greggor had nothing to do with craft beer growth or helping out other craft brewers.
This is what happens when a Craft brewer like Anchor sells out to a solely corporate interest. They only act out of greed.
Like Boston Beer said, this never would have happened if Fritz was still in charge.
Zing? Bam? You’re much too easily impressed. Mr. Greggor made no salient arguments in response to Boston’s legal challenge. Weak obfuscation and whining.
Instead of trying to make amends with the discerning beer consumers, Boston Beer has chosen the dark side. As Keith Greggor points out, Koch made a deliberate choice to bring this public, advertising their choice to go after a single salesman (in his twenties!). While you can raise the limit of how much beer a craft brewer can produce, you cannot change the ethics and respect that brewers share within this industry.
“Non-compete clauses are unenforceable.” Not true, they are enforceable dependent on state.
“some have been given a “pass” to work at other breweries and others have not. They can’t pick and choose to enforce based on scenarios they feel have a greater impact on sales, etc.” Yes they can choose. It is dependent on the non-compete contract’s wording, also the employer and employee could come to an agreement that would void the non-compete.
If you sign a non-compete agreement, you should consult an attorney before making any employment moves. Instead of relying on “an Anchor employee had told him the agreement could not be enforced” (http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2011/09/27/boston-beer-sues-rival-over-employee.html). I got a good chuckle out of that.
That is how Sam Adams keeps employees, they can’t leave for a better brewery ! They have to be out of beer for a year before coming back in. I know several former employees who did that, many others went to wine/spirits to get out. Some are still stuck there because they dont want to leave the industry.
Actions speak louder than words.. Boycott? How about starting with a boycott of the Sam Adam’s booth at GABF? Loads of craft brewers and enthusiasts in Denver right now could make a stand and speak out about this ridiculous situation.
Non-competes are unenforceable in California so if he is working for Anchor there really is nothing BB can do except waste the guys time and money.
I personally decide what beers are carried in two San Francisco bars and I can assure you that Sam Adams will not be one of them ever again
One Word…… BOYCOTT…. The Fu-kers
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