Lakefront Brewery posts 9.3% sales growth in 2002
Lakefront Brewery Inc. announced that its sales rose to 4851 barrels in 2002, an increase of 9.3% from its 2001 sales of 4437 barrels.
“The most significant increases come from the sales of our new specialty beers,” said Russ Klisch, president of the Milwaukee-based Lakefront Brewery. “We introduced Lakefront’s Oktoberfest in August and the reception was phenomenal through the end of its season in November.
“Likewise, the Belgian White beer launched in 2000 at Summerfest nearly doubled in sales this past year.” Klisch noted that numbers for the company’s core brands continued to rise, albeit at a less dramatic pace.
The 9.3% sales growth was more than double that of the craft industry average, and was greater than the average growth of imported beer. “In the context of how other major and microbreweries are doing around the country,” said Klisch, “I’m happy with it.”
Klisch said Lakefront’s steady growth formula is based on developing new brands that are based on classic styles of beer and working closely with its distributor, Beer Capitol. The brewery runs tours on weekends, consistently taking the pulse of customers. “This is how we evaluate trends and preferences in taste profiles first-hand, and how our new brands come about. Customers vote in pints.”
Lakefront Brewery produces a dozen regular and seasonal beers, distributed throughout the eastern half of Wisconsin including Madison, Chicago and Ohio in the Midwest, and Denver.
Lakefront Brewery was founded in 1987 by brothers Russ and Jim Klisch. The original brewery was housed in an old bakery on Chambers Street in Milwaukee’s Riverwest district. The Klisch brothers made 72 barrels of beer in the brewery’s first full year, 15 years ago, and sold their product to taverns within rolling distance of the brewery. The brewery is now at 1872 N. Commerce St., just north of downtown.
