Kona Brewing Co. announced Thursday that it will be expanding and moving its current brewery in Kona to a new, undisclosed location.
Kona Brewing Co. announced Thursday that it will be expanding and moving its current brewery in Kona to a new, undisclosed location.
According to a press release, the company is investing about $15 million in the expansion, which will include a new state-of-the-art, 30,000-square-foot brewery.
Chairman of the Kona Brewing Co. Advisory Board Mattson Davis, who was formerly president and CEO for Kona Brewing, said the company is looking into sites on Oahu, Kona and Maui, but they have yet to make a decision.
“We’re making sure we’re working with the state and the counties and developers to line everything up,” he said.
When asked how moving the brewery might impact Kona jobs and the restaurant, Mattson responded, “There would be an impact, but we’re still looking very much in Kona.”
He also said once the brewery moves, the restaurant is going to expand by 50 percent in seating capacity and add about 25 jobs. Currently, the brewing facility employs 12 individuals.
The new brewery’s jobs will be in quality, packaging, maintenance, and include instrument specialists, and have more brewers. Annual production is expected to increase by 100,000 barrels per year.
Plans are underway to break ground later this year and become fully operational by 2017.
According to a press release, Kona Brewing sales grew by 13 percent globally last year and achieved a milestone in the company’s history, selling more than 1 million cases in the state.
“We’ve continued to experience phenomenal growth in Hawaii and nationally,” Davis said.
According to a press release, the company decided to expand in order to meet increasing local consumer demand for flagships such as Kona Longboard Island Lager, Big Wave Golden Ale and Castaway IPA.
The new brewery will also enhance the company’s ability to create small-batch beers, such as the recently released Makana Series. It will also incorporate the latest innovations in technology to significantly reduce water and energy usage.
Kona Brewing Co. was started in 1994 by a father and son team, Cameron Healy and Spoon Khalsa. They had a dream to create fresh, local island brews made with spirit, passion and quality. It is Hawaii’s first and largest craft brewery and is best known for flagship beers Longboard Island Lager and Big Wave Golden Ale. For more information, call 334-BREW or visit konabrewingco.com.