Canada, NB: Moosehead Breweries to lay off 70 workers due to loss of major brewing contract

Moosehead Breweries will be laying off nearly half of the hourly production staff at its Saint John brewing facility due to the loss of a major brewing contract that represents roughly 40 per cent of the brewery’s output, Canadian Beer News reported on October, 3.

70 workers at the plant received notice that they will be let go when the contract ends at the end of June 2015, unless Moosehead is able to negotiate a similar arrangement with another brewery.

While Moosehead president and CEO Andrew Oland wouldn’t name the company that is cancelling its contract, CBC News has learned that it is Guinness, which currently has Guinness Extra Stout brewed at Moosehead for the American market, and will be moving production to its main brewery in Dublin.

Oland said that he is “disappointed this step has become necessary,” and that Moosehead is working with the provincial government to provide various support programs for those affected by the layoffs.

10 October, 2014