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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNEW BELGIUM BREWERY - OVERALL DEVELOPMENT PLAN - 1-95C - MEDIA - (5)Brewer plans.to ea �pand building New Belgium Co. anticipates growth By ROBERT BAUN S .';�Q -d 1 R o bertBaun@co loradoa n.com New Belgium Brewing and CO - has one hand making b er for the the other drafting plans future. In anticipation of more growth, the regional brewer is proposing a 5,985-square-foot addition to its brewery at 500 Linden SL, co-owner Kum Jordan said Monday. The expansion is intended to add brewing capacity, although the actual construction is "a few years off," Jordan said. Currently, New Belgium is brewing at 90 percent of its plant capacity, and is experienc- ing sales growth in each of its markets. "Hence the reason for some expansion," Jordan said. "If any of our territories grow fast, we're really putting ourselves at the edge there." The amount of brewing ca- ided by the addition pacity prov has not been determined, Jordan said. Growth has been steady for New Belgium since it moved in- to the Linden Street plant in 1995. "We've had yellow warning tape in some part of the brewery since day one," quipped Greg Owsley, New Belgium's director of marketing. Two months ago the brewer opened a 10,000-square-foot of- fice building next to the brew- ery, creating breathing room for its cramped administrative staff: The brewery's employment — 125 people — has nearly doubled since 1998. New Belgium increased pro- duction 12 percent in 2000 and expects 30 percent growth this year, enough to exceed 200,000 barrels a year. That means production has doubled since 1998. The brewery is best known for its Fat Tire beer, but is expe- riencing growth from relatively new brands such as Blue Paddle Nsner and 1554, Owsley said. In a recent survey, of craft brewers by the Institute for Brewing Studies, New Belgium was among the 21-fastest grow- ing small brewers in the coun- try.