The last major factory in the City of Vancouver and only Molson Coors brewery west of Ontario will remain a cornerstone of Canadian operations, according to a company director and great-great-great-great grandson of founder John Molson.
It supplies the west and we need it, Geoff Molson told the Courier on Wednesday. Its a good, strong performing brewery. Were investing in this brewery to make it even stronger. Regardless of the value of the real estate underneath us, its a brewery we consider important for our current network. The brewery at the southeast corner of the Burrard Bridge was built in 1953 by Seattle brewing tycoon Emil Sick. In 1958, the Montreal-based Molson company, founded in 1786, expanded westward with the purchase of Sicks Canadian operations.
Molson Coors, the product of a 2005 merger with Denver-based Coors, which was founded in 1873, expanded its Vancouver holdings again two years ago when subsidiary Creemore Springs bought Granville Island Brewing from Andrew Peller Ltd. The west has a particular interest in local microbrews and for us thats an interesting opportunity, hence Granville for us, Molson said. Were seeing them pop up all over Canada.
Last spring, Molson launched the Six Pints Specialty Beer Companya reference to the daily beer ration for British soldiers stationed overseas in the late 18th centuryto further compete amid the heavily fragmented beer market. People are not afraid to try new things, theyre curious to sample new tastes and new flavours and brand names, Molson said. The consumer in the past had two or three brands in their personal portfolio, now they would have six or seven brands, depending on the occasion.
Molson and brother Andrew, the new chairman of Molson Coors, began a cross-Canada tour in Vancouver Tuesday to celebrate the 225th anniversary of North Americas oldest brewery. The 40-year-old returned the Montreal Canadiens to the Molson family in 2009 when financially troubled American George Gillett was forced to sell after eight years. Great-uncle Hartland Molson bought the Habs in 1957.
Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final June 15 was the last Molson Coors-supplied hockey game at Rogers Arena, which has since switched to global rival AB InBev. June 15 was also the night of Vancouvers Stanley Cup riot, which was fuelled by alcohol consumption and binge drinking according to John Furlong and Doug Keefes report to the provincial government.
I wasnt present to witness it. I saw pictures on YouTube and the Internet, it certainly is something that is very unfortunate that happened, Molson said. There are probably many reasons why it happened and no one will have any specific explanation... but responsible drinking is something that we take very seriously.
