All content is posted anonymously by employees working at new belgium brewing. Founder, jeff lebesch, and cofounder, kim jordan, implemented an open management system in 1996. Today, new belgium brewing, established in 1991, is one of the largest craft brewers in the u. New belgium brewery and open book management src electrical. And, like all responsible business owners, its important to know your bottomline, barrels, and books. The idea for the new belgium brewing company began with a bicycling trip through belgium. And then we later decided to sell our shares to the esop. The viper squad is the crew of trainers and tour guides that lead the way to educating everyone that embarks on the brewery. Our 2019 artist series globe glass was designed by asheville artist drew findley. Openbook management at new belgium brewery youtube. After five years of employment, coworkers enjoy an allexpense paid pilgrimage to belgium to learn about beer culture. As of 2012, it was the thirdlargest craft brewery and eighthlargest overall brewery in the united states. We didnt invent the idea, we just adapted it from a book called the great game of business. New belgium brewing placed on best places to work list.
When craft beers grew in popularity in the 1990s through the 2000s the company grew in popularity as well. New belgium brewing fort collins brewery and tasting room. Why the maker of fat tire bucked the trend and became 100%. New belgium brewing becomes 100% employeeowned company. Openbook management at new belgium brewery most americans. Another member of the old guard of craft brewing sold today when kirinowned lion little world beverages announced a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of new belgium brewing. Openbook management and ownership opportunities for everyone make our. The founders of the company are jeff lebesch and kim jordan.
A limitededition collaboration between new belgium and knob creek. With brewing underway, cofounder kim jordan was new belgiums jackofalltrades as the first bottler, sales rep, distributor, marketer, financial planner and longtime ceo. Learn how new belgium brewing fosters a highinvolvement culture for employees, which helped them become the fourthlargest craft brewery in the united states. Summary new belgium brewery is a colorado based company that uses an open book management style. Kim jordan, cofounder and ceo of new belgium brewing, has cultivated her passion for social work, the environment, and community to create one of the most successful corporations in america. Esop purchases remainder of founders shares as company looks to future fort collins, co january 15, 20 new belgium brewing is excited to announce that the companys employee stock ownership program esop has purchased the balance of company shares, making it 100% employeeowned. An employeeowned b corp makes a great brew b the change. It was opened in 1991 by jeff lebesch and kim jordan. So, i started thinking about open book management and employee ownership. Fort collins new belgium brewing, maker of fat tire amber ale, announces sale to lion little world beverages, owned by kirin. New belgium brewing company, makers of fat amber ale and other belgianinspired beers, began operations in a tiny fort collins basement in 1991. This workplace culture, insiders say, is the key ingredient to the companys success, and it includes two other critical features. New belgium opens all of the books to it employs and provides financial training so.
Forbes just released an excellent article about our president and his excitement for new belgium brewery and their practices related to open book management. Katie wallace, director of social and environmental impact at new belgium brewing, has been with the company for 15 years. Operations management at new belgium brewing business essay. In 2011, it produced 712,800 barrels of its various labels. We practice open book management, providing coworkers access to company financials and a clear view into managerial decision making processes. New belgium brewing was an iconic employeeowned company, one that convinced policy makers to open their minds about the virtues of employee ownership. Why new belgium brewing makes employees take fourweek. New belgium s business model, which incorporates a plethora of benefits as ferenchik mentioned, along with open book management, company retreats, inhouse training, financial benefits and much. While the company had been loosely practicing open book management and highinvolvement culture at that time, jordan still wasnt sure that she wanted to show her people the books. Belgium is arguably the home of some of the worlds. Ethical and environmental responsibility history belgium is home of the finest ales and have been known to brew for centuries. Employees ride new belgium s iconic fat tire bicycles to work, parking them in front of the fort collins, colorado, brewery. New belgium 2019 artist series globe glass new belgium signature globe glass specialty stem glass glassware apparel favorites mens new belgium cans in the sun tshirt mens voodoo ranger mask tshirt womens voodoo ranger mask tshirt mens fat tire tshirt womens fat tire tshirt apparel. Were very eclectic in the approaches we try at new belgium, kim explains.
New belgium also was a pioneer in environmental sustainability, becoming a certified b corporation, a designation focused on a companys commitment to social goals beyond profitability. New belgium brewing company is a nationally distributed brewery recognized as a leader in sustainability and social responsibility. In 1989, founder jeff lebesch rode his mountain bike through belgium, brewery by brewery. And inside the new belgium brewery headquarters, a big, glassy barn of a building, the craft beer producers ceo, steve fechheimer, is facing a firing squad. News of the fort collinsbased brewing company led some to voice congratulations and others saying they would be taking their beer money. A visit to the mothership that is new belgium brewery. New belgium brewing honored as best for the environment. New belgium brewing, makers of fat tire amber ale and a host of belgianinspired beers, is recognized as one of outside magazines best places to work, one of the wall street journals best small businesses and tops bicycling magazines best companies for cyclists. How new belgium brewing has found sustainable success forbes. The new belgium brewing company began when a couple of belgium beer enthusiasts, jeff lebesch and kim jordan, made beer in their colorado basement.
It was on that trip that new belgium s popular fat tire amber ale was conceived. What does the sale of new belgium brewing mean for. Chapter 8 case study new belgium brewery chapter 8. New belgium to be acquired by kirinowned lion little. In 1991, jeff lebesch and kim jordan launched new belgium brewing in the basement of their home. Fat tire amber ale, sunshine wheat, blue paddle pilsner, 1554 black ale, abbey, mothership wit and. Jeff returned home with hopes to experiment and brew. New belgium brewing questions csr assumptions katie wallace.
Since then, new belgium became entirely employeeowned, achieved b corp certification, and constructed a distribution center and second craft brewery in asheville, north carolina, that both received leed certification. New belgiun is an employee owned brewery that practices open book management, providing coworkers access to company financials and a clear view into managerial decision making processes. The 100% employeeowned brewery is a platinumlevel bicycle friendly business as designated by the league of american. Briggs says the recognition from president obama gave her reason to pause and reflect on how special practicing open book management is. Open book management lets employees see the financial costs and performance. Early on new belgium adopted the practice of open book management. She started with practices like open book management and. So when jeff lebesch, an electrical engineer from fort collins, colorado took a bicycle trip through belgium it made him realize there may be a market back home to sell belgianstyle ale. Well be featuring 5 unique courses each paired with a different beer from new belgium brewing. New belgium brewery has an open book management policy which means that its employees can see the companys financial statements, and can take part in making decisions for the company. New belgium brewing honored as best for the environment april 14, 2015 ft. New belgium brewing is employeeowned and practices open book management style all coworkers have full disclosure of financial data and other company performance indicators.
Early on new belgium adopted the practice of openbook management, teaching its people how to read and interpret the financial performance. The uncommon open management style also helped new belgium brewery soar in profits and productivity. New belgium brewing, maker of fat tire, sells to kirin. Employeeowned b corp makes a great brew fifty by fifty. The companys emphasis on open book management is another good example of its flexibility and continuous evolution. New belgium also practices open book management so all coowners experience the rights and responsibilities of ownership. Why the maker of fat tire bucked the trend and became 100% owned by its workers. New belgium brewing to open snowmass resort bar and eatery. The history of new belgium brewing new belgium brewing.
As years went on, jordan would eventually scale the brewery into one of the most successful craft breweries in the country, acting as a visionary for both her coworkers and the industry. This entrepreneur empowers employees to brew an innovative. Founded in 1991 in fort collins, colorado, the company expanded to asheville, north carolina, in 2016 and denver, colorado, in 2018, and is now the fourth largest craft brewery in the u. As parts of a centralized organization, many employees are directed by. About new belgium brewing new belgium brewing, makers of fat tire amber ale and a host of belgianinspired beers, is recognized as one of outside magazines best places to work and one of the wall street journals best. As practitioners of openbook management and the great game of business, new belgium brewing has discovered the power that comes from having a. There are a couple of great shout outs to src electricals sister division. That means all of the nearly 800 coworkers of the company have access to its financials. Employees own 100 percent of new belgium, based in fort collins, colorado, after moving to an employee stock ownership plan in 2010, which became 100 percent in 20. New belgium uses openbook management, walking everyone through the finances at monthly allstaff meetings. Operations management, employee ownership, and leadership provided by management i would describe the operations management at new belgium brewing to be very well run. Dedicated to proving that business can be a force for good, new belgium is. The new belgium brewery has an open book management which means that if an employee sees a way to make productive change for the company they have the option to make the change without having to wait for permission for someone above them. New belgium had been in business about four years when jordan read the great game of business by jack stack.
New belgium brewing greenleaf center for servant leadership. Natural resource management team new belgium brewing. Transatlantique kriek sour ale is a collaboration between new belgium brewing and oud beersel and an annual part of our sour beer portfolio. For live storytelling, beersampling, artgazing fun, check out our tour calendar. Meet new belgium s practice of open book management. In 1991, jeff lebesch and kim jordan launched new belgium brewing in the. Open book management at new belgium brewery most americans define working as getting paid to make money for somebody else. New belgium brewery provides financial training to its employees, in order for them to understand how to make sense of the business side of business. New belgium brewing company the great game of business. Her lifelong commitment to developing healthy communities has informed new belgium s culture through progressive policies like employee ownership, open book management, and philanthropic giving. New belgium brewing began more than two decades ago with a bike ride. New belgium brewing awards its coworkers custom cruiser bikes. As parts of a centralized organization, many employees are.
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