The expansion comes after acquiring Flint-based Tom Ryan Distributing Co. in December, increasing the company's volume by 60 percent to 9 million cases per year. Candidates are nominated by their peers, with the winner selected by the IBA Board, Level 2, “The system works and now is not the time to dismantle a system that protects people’s lives,” said Mike Tobias, coordinator for the Michigan Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking. One of the first things Mt. About 70 percent of the expansion is used for case storage and 30 percent for the recycling and sorting center, as Fabiano gets back 100 percent of the bottles, cans and kegs it sells. Fabiano Brothers' network covers a region stretching from Midland to Mackinac Island, from Caro to Kalkaska. “We’re really excited at Hubert Distributors to support a local Oakland County brewer who’s making great beers and we’re ready to roll up our sleeves and work hard to help MillKing It Productions succeed,” said Tom Vella, president of Hubert, which has served as a beer distributor in Oakland County for decades. Each segment of the beer sector is distinct and independent. Amid wide choice, Michigan's alcohol laws have increased exposure to Michigan products, allowed manufacturers to tap into the marketing and merchandising expertise of the distributors, and kept tainted products off the shelves, all in an accountable and transparent manner. “Hubert strongly believes in supporting our community and local businesses like MIP brewery. One Michigan brewery, North Peak Brewing Co. in Traverse City, has partnered with Powers for years. Michigan's Three-Tier Distribution System Creates Competition and a Level Playing Field We have been in business for over 78 years providing many jobs with good wages and benefits. They’re making exciting and terrific products and we want to help get those products to new markets and showcase the tremendous range of local Oakland County choices available to consumers when it comes to beer.” “Our brewery is very happy to be working with Hubert Distributors and we foresee a great partnership going forward,” said Scott King, founder of MIP brewery. About 350 people are employed at this site, and as many as 400 or more people can be employed there during the busy summer months, Fabiano said. Upgrades are under way at Fabiano's wine warehouse in Saginaw, where crews are putting in new lighting, a new roof and a new heating system. Earl Smith Distributing has developed successful partnerships with dozens of brewers, importers and many of the 80 craft brewers and brew pubs here in Michigan. Now, he oversees hundreds of workers in more than 20 counties across the state. "You'll see those product lines dominated by just a few manufacturers but if you go down the beer aisle or the wine aisle, you will see dozens, if not hundreds of manufacturers represented and that's true competition." Collingwood, VIC 3066 Welcome to the NJBA The New Jersey Brewers Association is the voice of craft beer in New Jersey, representing its independent breweries and affiliated groups to support industry-wide growth and beer appreciation. As a result of this competitive climate, Michigan has 138 licensed distributors, more than states of comparable size. The reason: Light and oxygen are a beer’s worst enemy, King says. Construction is scheduled to be complete by December. To learn more about Local Pub & Brewery: http://www.thelocalpubandbrewery.com/ To learn more about Anderson Distributing Co.: http://andersondist.net, By Jim Holton and Joe Fabiano Like many local businesses, Mt. Fabiano Brothers, which distributes to retailers and taverns in more than 30 counties, was a natural choice. He said that helps put Michigan craft beers and wines on an equal footing with large international producers. It provides the opportunity for IBA member breweries to communicate their independence to directly to consumers. Sales of Michigan craft beer almost doubled from $11.2 million in 2007 to $22 million in 2010. By a 2-1 margin, respondents said it was more important to “ensure that Michigan has strong safeguards on the sale of alcohol to ensure public safety,” than “to reform Michigan's outdated regulations that tie up local producers and small businesses.” More than 70% said alcohol needs stronger regulations than other consumer products and 76% said existing regulations on booze were “about right.” The poll of 506 likely voters, conducted in early February, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points, according to the poll produced jointly by the Republican polling firm Public Opinion Strategies and the Democratic firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research. And stores and restaurants sell a wide range of beer without undue outside influence. It’ll be an epic party in bars, breweries and homes across the nation. All rights reserved. "If you got rid of them, you'd have a negative impact on jobs in this state," Lashbrook said. Michigan's craft beer industry as a whole grew an impressive 21 percent from 2009 to 2010.