Colleagues, Not Competitors
This article details a rare occurrence in today’s American business: competitors sharing resources. I toured Samuel Adams’ brewery last summer in Boston and I was really impressed with their outlook and attitude (for a beer company, of course). With the shortage of hops right now, hoarding a large supply is an easy way to run out competition. But Sam Adams has done the opposite and offered a portion of their reserves at cost to interested craft brewers. There are nearly 1,500 craft breweries in the US and many are struggling with the high cost of ingredients.
Ausenhus said the hops sharing illustrates the camaraderie that exists among craft brewers large and small.
“It’s a fairly friendly, open industry,” he said. “I don’t know if maybe they just feel they’re big enough they don’t have to worry, but I think that there is a genuine interest and they know that a thriving craft brewing industry probably helps them too, and certainly it’s just a generous gesture on their part as well.”
If only a few other industries like oil and food could have this outlook…
