Pelican Brands looks to take tiny Napa Smith Brewery nationwide in a year
Pelican Brands has entered into an exclusive purchase agreement to acquire the Napa Smith Brewery & Winery. The purchase includes seven acres of land and 50,000 sq.ft. of production, warehousing and office space.
Earlier this year, Napa Smith appointed Pelican Brands as its exclusive sales representatives in the United States.
Pelican Brands is a brand marketing company based in Carmel, Indiana that provides marketing, sales and distributor management. Other brands in their portfolio include Singha beer, Arta Tequila and others.
Napa Smith, founded by the Smith family with a background in the wine business, hired Don Barkley as brewmaster who has formulated the recipes. Don of course worked at the nation’s first microbrewery , New Albion before becoming a co-founder of Mendocino Brewing Company in 1983.
It appears that Pelican Brands has ambitious plans for the brand. J. Smoke Wallin, Chairman & CEO of Pelican Brands, said, “It is our belief that while a few will become regional brands, a very select few will become national brands. In a press release, the company stated that Napa Smith will be available nationwide by mid 2011.
In the past three months alone, Napa Smith, through Pelican’s platform, has expanded into eight new states. Pelican Brands will provide the growth capital needed for further expansion. Napa’s winemakers made the Napa Valley into a global name and destination. We are proud to continue this tradition by bringing beer – brewed with the same level of quality and attention to detail – to discerning consumers everywhere.”