CALGARY,
AB, July 10, 2024 /CNW/ - Big Rock
Brewery Inc. (TSX: BR) ("Big Rock" or the
"Corporation") Inc is excited to announce it has
acquired a QuikFlex™ 2100G3
(the "QuikFlex") manufactured by Graphic Packaging International,
one of the world's leading providers of integrated solutions for
packaging, materials, printing, and automation.
The QuikFlex represents the latest technology in a flexible,
high-speed, continuous-motion packer designed to package single
tiers of cans in various configurations and features automatic
loading. The QuikFlex will be integrated with the Corporation's
high-speed canning line that was upgraded during 2022.
David Kinder, Big Rock's
President and Chief Executive Officer noted "The acquisition of
this equipment was critical to allow Big Rock to meet the tastes
and preferences of our loyal customer base and demonstrates our
commitment to re-invest in the company. This addition will also
allow us to package products in formats that align with the needs
of our co-packing partners and will reduce product movements and
reliance on third party packers, making us more competitive."
- The Corporation also announced some recent operational
realignments: At the conclusion of its lease on July 31, 2024, Big Rock's location in
Vancouver will be permanently
closed. Prior to the pandemic, this location, which was opened in
2015, featured a tap room, restaurant and micro-brewery. The tap
room and restaurant were ultimately not re-opened and the leased
space was larger than what is required to maintain production;
and
- Effective June 17, 2024 Big Rock
sold and closed its warehouse facility located in Edmonton, Alberta. Big Rock products will
continue to be distributed to each of its customers via a
partnership with Hy-Line Express Ltd, an Edmonton-based trucking company who will
provide cross-docking functionality to Big Rock's existing network
of transportation partners.
Mr. Kinder commented: "Upon joining Big Rock I worked with our
team to review the results of the Strategic Review conducted in
2023. It became evident that these changes were necessary to allow
us to focus on our core business. We are cognizant of our
long-standing commitment from our customers in British Columbia and in Central and
Northern Alberta and look forward
to continuing to meet their needs. Our brewing/production
operations in BC will be relocated and we will continue to brew
high-quality beverages, including Rock Creek Ciders, White Peaks
teas and Tree Brewing Co. beers, that our customers have come to
expect and appreciate. In Edmonton
we saw the opportunity to streamline our operating costs and
consolidate both our inventory and logistics staging operations
with our Calgary location. Our
customers will continue to be able to order directly, have product
readily available and be serviced on a seamless basis with our
existing network of last-kilometer logistic partners who will
continue to deliver our product directly."
Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute
forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future
events or Big Rock's future performance. All statements, other than
statements of historical fact, may be forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking information are not facts, but only predictions and
generally can be identified by the use of statements that include
words or phrases such as, "anticipate", "believe", "continue",
"could", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "likely", "may",
"project", "predict", "propose", "potential", "might", "plan",
"seek", "should", "targeting", "will", and similar
expressions. These statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or
events to differ materially from those anticipated in such
forward-looking statements. Big Rock believes that the expectations
reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable but no
assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be
correct and such forward-looking statements included in this press
release should not be unduly relied upon by readers, as actual
results may vary materially from such forward-looking statements.
These statements speak only as of the date of this press release
and are expressly qualified, in their entirety, by this cautionary
statement.
In particular, this press release contains forward-looking
statements pertaining to the following:
- Big Rock's expectation that the QuikFlex will allow Big Rock to
meet the changing tastes and preferences of its customer base;
- Big Rock's expectation that the addition of the QuikFlex will
allow Big Rock to package products in formats that align with the
needs of co-packing partners;
- Big Rock's expectation that the addition of the QuikFlex will
reduce product movements and reliance on third party packers,
making the Corporation more competitive;
- the anticipated date and timeline of Big Rock's location in
Vancouver permanent closure;
- Big Rock's expectation that its products will continue to be
distributed to each of its customers via a partnership with Hy-Line
Express Ltd.;
- Big Rock's expectation that Hy-Line Express Ltd. will provide
cross-docking functionality to Big Rock's existing network of
transportation partners;
- Big Rock's expectation that implementation of the operational
realignment will allow Big Rock to continue to meet the needs of
its customers in British Columbia,
Northern and Central Alberta;
- the expectations that Big Rock's operational realignment will
result in the streamlining of operating costs and consolidate the
Corporation's inventory and logistics staging operations with its
Calgary location; and
- the expectations that customers will continue to be able to
order, have product readily available and be serviced on a seamless
basis with Big Rock's existing network of last-kilometer logistic
partners who will continue to deliver our product directly.
With respect to the forward-looking statements listed above and
contained in this press release, management has made assumptions
regarding, among other things:
- there will be no material change to the regulatory environment
in which Big Rock operates;
- there will be no material supply issues with Big Rock's
vendors;
- that Big Rock will receive and successfully complete the
installation of the QuikFlex;
- that Big Rock can and will successfully integrate and operate
the QuikFlex; and
- that Big Rock can and will execute its operational realignments
and strategies.
Some of the risks which could affect future results and could
cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the
forward-looking information and statements contained herein include
the risk factors set out in the Corporation's annual information
form for the year ended December 30,
2023 and in the Corporation's most recent Management
Discussion and Analysis which are available on SEDAR+ at
www.sedarplus.ca and also include, but are not limited to:
- the inability to integrate the QuikFlex with the Corporation's
high-speed canning line as expected;
- the risk that the addition of the QuikFlex may not allow Big
Rock to package products in formats that align with the needs of
co-packing partners as expected;
- the risk that the implementation of the operational realignment
may not allow Big Rock to continue to meet the needs of its
customers in British Columbia,
Northern and Central Alberta as
expected;
- the inability to complete the anticipated relocation of Big
Rock's brewing operations in British
Columbia and continue to brew high-quality beverages as
expected;
- the risk that Big Rock's operational realignment may not result
in the streamlining of operating costs and consolidate the
Corporation's inventory and logistics staging operations with its
Calgary location as expected;
and
- the risk that customers may not be able to order, have product
readily-available and be serviced on a seamless basis with Big
Rock's existing network of last-kilometer logistic partners as
expected.
Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of assumptions and
risk factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking information and
statements contained herein are expressly qualified in their
entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking
information and statements included in this press release are made
as of the date hereof and Big Rock does not undertake any
obligation to publicly update such forward-looking information and
statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or
otherwise unless so required by applicable securities laws.
About Big Rock Brewery Inc.
In 1985, Ed McNally founded Big
Rock to contest the time's beer trends. Three bold,
European-inspired offerings – Bitter, Porter and Traditional Ale –
forged an industry at a time heavy on easy drinking lagers and
light on flavour. Today, our extensive portfolio of signature
beers, ongoing seasonal offerings, six ciders (Rock Creek
Cider® series) and custom-crafted private label products
and other notable, licensed alcoholic beverages keeps us at the
forefront of the craft beer revolution and still proudly contesting
the beer and alcoholic beverage trends of today. With brewing
operations in Calgary, Alberta,
Vancouver, British Columbia, and
Toronto, Ontario. Big Rock trades
on the TSX under the symbol "BR". For more information on Big Rock
Brewery visit www.bigrockbeer.com
SOURCE Big Rock Brewery Inc.