Press Release:
(Stevens Point, WI) – Stevens Point Brewery will add a second shift in its packaging department this summer to keep pace with its increased brewing capacity and steadily growing sales, especially in its core Wisconsin markets.
The new shift on the brewery’s bottle and can lines means at least five new jobs with a flexible work schedule based on volume and production needs, which have recently increased. Earlier this spring the Stevens Point Brewery completed an expansion that included nine new fermentation tanks, two new bright beer tanks and other equipment that enables it to brew 120,000 barrels of beer annually. It was the third expansion project in the last three years at the brewery, which enjoyed double-digit sales growth for its handcrafted specialty beers in each of those years.
“Our recent expansion significantly increased our brewing capacity and if we brew more beer, we obviously need to package more beer,” said Joe Martino, Stevens Point Brewery Managing Partner. “We know we are going to have a very busy summer, so the time is right to expand our packaging operations with a second shift for the first time in our brewery’s 155-year history.”
Point Beers Support Wisconsin’s Economy
Doing its part to help grow Wisconsin’s economy, the Stevens Point Brewery has created new jobs each year for the past three years. In addition to the planned second shift in packaging, the brewery hired a new Brewery Operator this spring. In 2010 and 2011 it hired two new Sales Managers, a Logistics Manager, a Brewery Operator and a full-time Lab Technician.
Creating new jobs is not the only way the Stevens Point Brewery contributes to Wisconsin’s economic growth. “In addition to the new jobs we’ve been able to create, our capital expenditures for the recent expansions represent a significant investment that benefits Wisconsin businesses,” Martino explained. “In the past three years we have invested $2.1 million for new equipment and additional warehouse space, and the lion’s share of that money went to local Wisconsin companies. We also spend more than $1.5 million each year on Wisconsin-based raw materials and packaging suppliers to support our normal operations.”
Meanwhile the demand for Point shows no signs of slowing down. “Our brewery will continue to grow and prosper and that’s good news for Wisconsin.”