By Annette Shailer, editor, Beer&Brewer magazine
Stone and Wood co-founders Ross Jurisich, Jamie Cook and Brad Rogers have announced the establishment of an alternative business hub designed to "incubate new products and businesses".
The first step in the creation of this new hub is the formation of a sales and distribution business, Square Keg, which will provide a route to market for these products and businesses, while also acting as an importer/distributor for other drinks brands looking to be part of a portfolio of premium drinks brands.
These will all operate independently from Stone & Wood Brewing Company, which will maintain its focus on brewing and selling Stone & Wood beers.
"With the expansion of the new Stone & Wood brewery in Murwillumbah almost complete and the long awaited changes to the Stone & Wood range of beers now finalised, we now have time to think about the future and revisit some of those ideas and opportunities that have been parked over the years," co-founders Cook, Jurisich and Rogers said in a statement.
"With this in mind we have established an alternative business hub that can incubate new products and businesses, and can also invest in and support other start up or established drinks businesses."
To help build and operate the business Garry Hastings has been appointed managing partner/director of Square Keg. Hastings brings to the role senior experience working with brand owners and distributors in his previous roles at CUB, Tucker Seabrook, Grupo Modelo (Corona) and Anhueser Busch Inbev.
Square Keg will open for business in early to mid-October, with the first products in its portfolio to be announced in the coming weeks.
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