Sapporo Holdings

This summer is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable seasons that Columbia Distributing CEO Chris Steffanci has ever experienced.

Sapporo-Stone has conducted a “small-scale reduction” in its workforce as the company continues to find the right balance for the combined operations of its Japanese import beer and California craft business.

With wind in its sails from accelerating grocery sales, Sapporo has set its sights on multi-channel expansion. The 149-year-old brand has been invigorated in recent years as Sapporo-Stone, the combined entity born from the former’s acquisition of the latter in 2022, takes shape.

Sapporo Holdings has taken a more than $91.5 million (JPY 13.9 billion) impairment charge on the goodwill of its Stone Brewing business, which the Japanese brewing giant acquired nearly three years ago for $165 million.

While beer consumers – particularly core craft fans – once cared more about brand and where a product was made, most bev-alc consumers are now prioritizing price, quality and availability, among other factors. This has caused not only a shift in how craft beer is produced and marketed (hello, contract brewing boom), but also trends in imported beer.

The 2025 plan for Stone Brewing is addition by subtraction, discontinuing several “unproductive” brands and packages nationally, including special releases, the Enjoy By IPA series and large-format bottles in order to put a heavy emphasis on core brands, as well the expansion of newish lager brands.

Sapporo-Stone workers in Virginia have begun a union drive, VinePair’s Dave Infante reported Monday. Workers are seeking “higher pay, more consistent scheduling and better working conditions,” per the report.

Sapporo-Stone Brewing is officially making Zach Keeling its new CEO. Keeling was appointed interim CEO in January when then-CEO Maria Stipp stepped down from the role after guiding the Escondido, California-headquartered brewery through its 2022 acquisition by the Japanese brewing giant and through its integration.

Sapporo-Stone Brewing Co. unveiled a $60 million expansion plan yesterday that will double the company’s annual capacity to about 700,000 barrels.

Anchor SF Cooperative (ASFC), a group of former Anchor Brewing workers, has launched a WeFunder campaign to help its efforts to “carry on the legacy of Anchor Brewing.”

Reactions to Japanese beer giant Sapporo’s decision to cease operations at Anchor Brewing and liquidate the business continue to roll in. The voice of the San Francisco craft brewery’s workforce is just beginning to be heard.

Anchor Brewing, the nation’s oldest craft brewery, will cease operations and the business will be liquidated, the company’s public relations firm announced today. The San Francisco craft brewery, which was acquired for $85 million by Sapporo in August 2017, cited “a combination of challenging economic factors and declining sales since 2016.” Ultimately, the company said the economic pressure “made the business

As the 1-year anniversary of Sapporo’s acquisition of Stone Brewing approaches, the combined company has restructured its distributor management team, which led to a 1% workforce reduction, a spokesperson confirmed to Brewbound.

With Stone Brewing’s sale to Sapporo expected to close in August, the Escondido, California-headquartered craft brewery has promoted Nicole Williams and Robert Kuntz to lead brewing operations at its bi-coastal facilities in Escondido and Richmond, Virginia.