AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT ANCHOR BREWING

San Francisco, California-based Anchor Brewing, an iconic San Francisco brewing operation, will cease operation and go out of business.

Approximately 61 employees are impacted by the closure.

According to a company statement, "The company — one of the country's oldest craft breweries, founded in 1896, will cease operations and liquidate the business following a combination of challenging economic factors and declining sales since 2016. Like many breweries and brew pubs, Anchor has been dramatically impacted by economic pressure that has made the business no longer sustainable.

“This was an extremely difficult decision that Anchor reached only after many months of careful evaluation.

“We recognize the importance and historic significance of Anchor to San Francisco and to the craft brewing industry, but the impacts of the pandemic, inflation, especially in San Francisco, and a highly competitive market left the company with no option but to make this sad decision to cease operations.”

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT J.J. TAYLOR COMPANIES

Jupiter, Florida-based J.J. Taylor Companies, a beer distributor serving the states of Florida and Minnesota, has announced that the company will sell its Minnesota operation, known as J.J. Taylor Distributing Company of Minnesota, to New York, New York-based Breakthru Beverage Group, a leading alcohol wholesaler in the United States and Canada.

Approximately 180 employees will be impacted when the deal closes later in Spring 2022.

According to J.J. Taylor Companies' Chairman, President and CEO John Taylor, "We are pleased with the sale of our Minnesota business to Breakthru and are confident the newly combined team will continue our legacy of ‘First Choice’ service in the Twin Cities.”

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT BUENO BEVERAGE

Visalia, California-based Bueno Beverage, a regional distributor of beer and other alcoholic beverages, has announced a fifty-percent reduction in force.

The reduction will impact 68 employees located at their Visalia Industrial Park facility and separations are scheduled for February 14, 2022.

The company distributes Anheuser-Busch beers like Budweiser and Constellations' Mexican brands like Corona Extra and Modelo Especial.

Caught in a brand war...

According to Bueno Beverage's President, Randy Bueno, "Constellations, which Bueno Beverage has sold for more than 20 years and has increased its sales of by 6.8% in 2020 and 7.8% in 2021, is forcing Bueno to sell its brand distribution rights to companies that affiliate with Miller/Coors houses and not Anheuser-Busch houses."

This is on top of the impact of the pandemic on the bar and restaurant industry and/or declines in the market share of traditional beers like Budweiser and Coors as the market share of craft beers increases.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?