Schlafly Beer Partners with NA Beer Brand WellBeing Brewing
(ST. LOUIS, MO) — Schlafly Beerand WellBeing Brewing Co. announce today a new strategic joint venture that leverages the respective strengths of both Schlafly Beer, St. Louis’ original, independent craft brewery, and WellBeing Brewing Co., a fast-growing national non-alcoholic craft beer pioneer in St. Louis, to create compelling value for both companies and consumers.
Consumers will soon be able to find WellBeing Brewing Co’s non-alcoholic craft beers in many of the same on and off-premise establishments across Schlafly’s distribution footprint. From a business perspective, the partnership strategically aligns both companies by combining the strength of Schlafly Beer’s management and operational capabilities with WellBeing Brewing Co.’s focus on innovation and creative expertise as a growing non-alcoholic craft beer player.
“This is truly a joint venture. It allows us to scale our brand to a new level,” said CEO of WellBeing Brewing Co. Jeff Stevens. “ We can utilize Schlafly’s operational resources, yet still grow our brand under our vision. As craft brewers look for ways to adapt to a changing consumer landscape, non-alcoholic offerings are becoming essential. We believe that we can be a driver of innovation across the adult non-alcoholic space.”
As partners, Schlafly Beer will manage the sales and production of WellBeing NA brands, collaborating with WellBeing’s current contract brewing and distributor partners. Schlafly will also brew and pack new non-alcoholic products for WellBeing, manage inventory, materials procurement, logistics, and sales support. WellBeing will oversee product development, marketing, content, publicity, and grow its e-commerce business.
“This is a really innovative way to approach collaborative partnerships,” commented Fran Caradonna, CEO of Schlafly Beer. “Under Jeff Stevens’ leadership, WellBeing Brewing Co. has built an incredible brand, and we align in so many ways from our focus on quality to care for the community. The non-alcoholic beer space is a growing category, so this relationship allows our team to get more beverage options in consumers’ hands through our combined distribution footprints.”
According to a February 2022 article in Forbes, research firm CGA Strategy found that no and low-alcohol beers is one of the fastest-growing segments in the overall beer category, increasing by 96% over the last 52 weeks at the time of publication. Paste magazine cites the following 2021 study which states that the total volume for the non-alcoholic category is forecasted to grow by 31% in the overall total beverage alcohol market by 2024. The same study also found beer and cider brands dominate the overall no/low-alcohol market with a 92% share due to early innovation and investment in quality from brands like Wellbeing Brewing Co.
The new strategic partnership between Schlafly Beer and Wellbeing Brewing Co. also allows both brands to appeal to today’s modern drinking consumer. More than half (58%) of no/low alcohol consumers in the IWSR study choose to switch between no/low alcohol and full-strength alcoholic beverages on the same occasion, while only 14% state that they do not drink alcohol at all, signaling signs of moderation and health consciousness as consumer drivers.
Schlafly Beer and WellBeing Brewing Co.’s joint venture will begin now, and WellBeing Brewing Co.’s line of non-alcoholic craft beers, brewed by Schlafly Beer, will be on shelves later this year. For more information about Schlafly Beer distribution, see here. Learn more about WellBeing Brewing Co.’s story here and see their portfolio here.
About Schlafly Beer: Schlafly Beer, St. Louis’ original independent craft brewery, proudly brews a diverse collection of beers throughout the year. Our brewers use numerous hop varietals, malts, grains, fruits, natural ingredients and yeast strains from around the world to make every Schlafly beer unique. As part of our commitment to sustainability and our communities, we collaborate with local suppliers and neighborhood partners. Schlafly is a go-to across the Midwest and East Coast, and is a staple at countless fine establishments, backyards and basement bars. Join us at The Schlafly Tap Room, Schlafly Bottleworks, Schlafly Bankside and Schlafly Highland Square, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. For a full listing of Schlafly beers and the beer finder, visit Schlafly.com
About WellBeing Brewing Co.: WellBeing Brewing, founded in 2018 by Jeff Stevens and Genevieve Barlow, is a nationally recognized craft brewery solely dedicated to brewing great tasting non-alcoholic (NA) craft beers for discoverers and recoverers alike. The idea behind the brewery was born out of a personal desire by Jeff, who is 25+ years sober, to elevate the non-alcoholic social landscape after having experienced the constant disappointment of limited beverage choices available for people who don’t drink alcohol, as well as the negative stigma associated with not drinking. With two locations in St. Louis, MO and Virginia Beach, VA, WellBeing beers are brewed for anyone who enjoys an active lifestyle, is reevaluating their relationship with alcohol, or simply wants to take the night off, but still be social and feel included in the fun. WellBeing Brewing’s portfolio of craft beers are available on its website – wellbeingbrewing.com – and at major retail chains throughout the USA.
