ANDREW - Origlio Beverage

BrewerHIGHLIGHT
Andrew Oland
Moosehead Breweries
IT I S E X T R E M E LY R A R E F O R A B U S I N E S S T O S U RV I V E
multiple fires, takeover bids, Prohibition, the Depression, two World
Wars and absolute destruction in an explosion. Rarer still, is that
business being run by the same family for six generations. The history
of the Moosehead Brewery, currently located in Saint John, New
Brunswick, is a remarkable and unique testament to the power of
family and tradition. It is Canada’s oldest independent brewery, the
third largest in the country and the only major brewery in Canada
currently owned by Canadians.
Andrew Oland is the sixth generation member of his family to lead the
Oland brewing business started by his great-great-great grandmother,
Susannah Oland who brewed her first batch of beer in Nova Scotia in
1867. Encouraged by the welcome reception her brew received from
friends and family, Susannah and her husband, John James Dunn
Oland, began to market the beer. As they say, the rest is history.
Andrew Oland received his business degree in 1989 from Old
Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia and his MBA from Harvard
Business School in 1997. He joined Moosehead in 1992 where he has
held a number of increasingly senior positions within the company.
to nature, fresh water, big mountains and
wide open spaces. Those images resonate
with people everywhere.”
Moosehead Inc. recently delved into the
craft segment with Hop City Brewing Co.
The craft brewery’s flagship brand, Barking
Squirrel Lager has been very well received
and has won numerous awards. Oland
explains, “We challenged our brewers to
come up with the best representation of a
style. With Barking Squirrel they did just
that. I think craft beer gets people excited
about the beverage and it’s also great from
“…if you work hard, good things will happen…”
Andrew was appointed President on April 1, 2008. From one
generation to the next, it is clear that the Oland family’s passion for beer
and respect for tradition is the reason they remain independent today.
The brewery’s guiding principles, courage and passion, stem from the
Oland family’s resilience. “There are many challenges we have faced
and still do,” says Oland. “We need courage to do the right things and
take risks. We all have tremendous love for what we do and the
products we sell. You can see that passion within all of our employees
and the beers that we brew.”
“Moosehead is owned by my father who brewed the first Moosehead
Lager in 1978, the same year it was introduced to the U.S., and my
brother Patrick is the CFO. My father has a rule that you must work outside
the company before joining the family business. He feels that it builds
credibility and confidence. Once here, we have to work in all levels of the
company to get a complete understanding of how the organization
operates. We all agree that if you work hard, good things will happen.”
The Moosehead Lager we all enjoy today is the same recipe that was
brewed 35 years ago. “Once you have a successful recipe it’s all
about being consistent; brewing the same high quality beer time and
time again,” says Oland. “People appreciate authenticity and in cities
like Philadelphia, Moosehead Lager is appreciated not only for its
dependability, but also for its taste profile. Moosehead is the best
representation of a more flavorful lager and that is what drinkers are
looking for. I believe that in larger cities, people are more apt to be
experimental, whether it be with beer, food or culture. ‘Moosehead’
also represents the best things about Canada. It shows our connection
a responsibility stand point. For most craft
drinkers it’s not about getting drunk, rather
they are looking to enjoy the flavor. And
personally, I think beer is a much better
match for food than wine. Craft beer is
bringing that to the forefront. This year, we
are looking to bring an ale to the U.S. from
Hop City.”
In addition to brewing great beer,
Moosehead Inc. stays on top of the trends.
“Marketing has changed,” says Oland,
“there is a need these days to have
conversations with consumers and we can
do that through social media.” Moosehead’s
current campaign, “To All Things Made
Well,” running on Facebook, allows
individuals who devote extra time to their
crafts, to share their passions with others via
video clips. “We want to celebrate those
who share the same passion and devotion
for their craft as we do for ours.”
As for 2013, Oland tells us what we can
expect from Moosehead, “In addition to our
own brands, we also import an entire
portfolio of brands to Canada. We plan to
bring some of these interesting imports to
the U.S. this year.”
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