Atwater Brewery in Detroit today announced it has signed distribution agreements with M1 Network, a group of 10 established MillerCoors distributors with comprehensive reach across Michigan.
“For craft brewers, finding the right distribution partners can make all the difference,” says Mark Rieth, owner of Atwater Brewery. “M1 is absolutely the right partner for our size brewery and can help us deliver the award-winning lagers and specialty ales to retailers across Michigan and in the U.P. We’re anticipating close to a 30 percent sales increase in the state as a result.”
M1 Network collectively employs more than 4,000 people, who service approximately 17,000 Michigan accounts. Its members include: O&W, Inc., Ypsilanti; Power’s Distributing, Lake Orion; Eastown Distributing, Highland Park; Dan Henry Distributing, Lansing; HIS Distributing, Kalamazoo; Alliance Beverage, Grand Rapids; J P O’Sullivan, Flint; Gerry’s Distributing, Port Huron; and Alpena Beverage, Alpena.
“To be the leading Michigan distributor requires us to represent great brands,” says Kit Wanty-Lambert, president of M1 Network. “Atwater is Detroit’s largest and fastest growing brewery and offers iconic brands like Dirty Blonde, Vanilla Java Porter, and Decadent Dark Chocolate Ale, to name just a few. M1 has the manpower, infrastructure, and relationships to help Atwater reach the next level.”
According to Rieth, while Atwater distributes to 21 U.S. states and Canada, it’s always been a hometown brewer and is dedicated to its roots in Detroit. “Brewing beer is a tough business, but it’s a business about celebrating good times,” says Rieth. “M1 Network will help us reach far more celebrations across Michigan than ever before.”
In addition to hundreds of retail outlets, Atwater beers are available at Atwater’s Biergarten and Tap House locations in Detroit, Grosse Pointe, and Grand Rapids.
