Northern Breweries
Encyclopedia
Northern Breweries was a Canadian
brewery
, with facilities in Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie
, Ontario
.
The Company was founded in 1907 by three families, the Doran family, the Mackey family and the Fee family. The organizer and operating head of the Company was J.J. Doran. Doran, together with co-founders J.J. Mackey and Richard Fee expanded operations throughout northern Ontario.
Construction and commencement of its primary facility began in Sudbury as Sudbury Brewing and Malting Co. in 1907. It began to expand in 1911, with the purchase of the Soo Falls Brewing Co. in Sault Ste. Marie, and again in 1913 with the acquisition of Kakabeka Falls Brewing Co. in Fort William
.
In 1919, the company established its Doran's Brewery division in Timmins
, and in 1948 it acquired the Port Arthur Beverage Co. in Port Arthur
.
All of the individual breweries operated under their original names until 1960. In that year, all of the brewing operations were consolidated under one management, relinquishing their previous names and becoming known as Doran's Northern Breweries.
On August 31, 1971 the company was purchased by Canadian Breweries, although it continued to operate under the name Doran's Northern Breweries. In July 1977, the Doran's employees purchased the company back from Canadian Breweries, and Northern became the first employee-owned
brewing cooperative
in North America
.
In 1979, the brewery began marketing its beers in Southern Ontario
as well.
In 2004, the company was purchased by an investment group led by Leo Schotte. Leo Schotte hired a veteran of the brewery business in Canada, Mr. William Sharpe as president. In 2005, the company announced a major rebranding effort, retiring many of its old products in favour of more modern brews and brand identities.
In 2006 questions were raised at Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie city councils about tax benefits extended to Northern Breweries and whether the brewery was meeting the conditions of the agreement. One of the conditions was increased hiring at the breweries and there was no evidence that this had taken place. In June 2006, William Sharpe appeared before Sault Ste. Marie city council and cited poor sales and lack of investor interest as reasons for the downturn in the company's fortunes. The brewery is $7 million in debt and has ceased production at the Sudbury facility. Sharpe left the company in July 2006.
Northern Breweries products are no longer being manufactured. A tax sale of its assets is expected in 2009.
The company's facility in Sudbury was acquired in 2010 by Sookram Bus Lines, a local tour and charter bus operator.
The Site In Sault Ste. Marie Ontario, is now being turned into a 32 story skyscraper. The building will be used for condo's , and is the first skyscraper in Northern Ontario.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
, with facilities in Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie is a city on the St. Marys River in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is the third largest city in Northern Ontario, after Sudbury and Thunder Bay, with a population of 74,948. The community was founded as a French religious mission: Sault either means "jump" or "rapids" in...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
The Company was founded in 1907 by three families, the Doran family, the Mackey family and the Fee family. The organizer and operating head of the Company was J.J. Doran. Doran, together with co-founders J.J. Mackey and Richard Fee expanded operations throughout northern Ontario.
Construction and commencement of its primary facility began in Sudbury as Sudbury Brewing and Malting Co. in 1907. It began to expand in 1911, with the purchase of the Soo Falls Brewing Co. in Sault Ste. Marie, and again in 1913 with the acquisition of Kakabeka Falls Brewing Co. in Fort William
Fort William, Ontario
Fort William was a city in Northern Ontario, located on the Kaministiquia River, at its entrance to Lake Superior. It amalgamated with Port Arthur and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre to form the city of Thunder Bay in January 1970. Ever since then it has been the largest city in Northwestern...
.
In 1919, the company established its Doran's Brewery division in Timmins
Timmins
Timmins is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada on the Mattagami River. At the time of the Canada 2006 Census, Timmins' population was 42,997...
, and in 1948 it acquired the Port Arthur Beverage Co. in Port Arthur
Port Arthur, Ontario
Port Arthur was a city in Northern Ontario which amalgamated with Fort William and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre to form the city of Thunder Bay in January 1970. Port Arthur was the district seat of Thunder Bay District.- History :...
.
All of the individual breweries operated under their original names until 1960. In that year, all of the brewing operations were consolidated under one management, relinquishing their previous names and becoming known as Doran's Northern Breweries.
On August 31, 1971 the company was purchased by Canadian Breweries, although it continued to operate under the name Doran's Northern Breweries. In July 1977, the Doran's employees purchased the company back from Canadian Breweries, and Northern became the first employee-owned
Employee-owned corporation
An employee share ownership plan is the practice of companies giving staff members shares in their company as part of their salary....
brewing cooperative
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
In 1979, the brewery began marketing its beers in Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
as well.
In 2004, the company was purchased by an investment group led by Leo Schotte. Leo Schotte hired a veteran of the brewery business in Canada, Mr. William Sharpe as president. In 2005, the company announced a major rebranding effort, retiring many of its old products in favour of more modern brews and brand identities.
In 2006 questions were raised at Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie city councils about tax benefits extended to Northern Breweries and whether the brewery was meeting the conditions of the agreement. One of the conditions was increased hiring at the breweries and there was no evidence that this had taken place. In June 2006, William Sharpe appeared before Sault Ste. Marie city council and cited poor sales and lack of investor interest as reasons for the downturn in the company's fortunes. The brewery is $7 million in debt and has ceased production at the Sudbury facility. Sharpe left the company in July 2006.
Northern Breweries products are no longer being manufactured. A tax sale of its assets is expected in 2009.
The company's facility in Sudbury was acquired in 2010 by Sookram Bus Lines, a local tour and charter bus operator.
The Site In Sault Ste. Marie Ontario, is now being turned into a 32 story skyscraper. The building will be used for condo's , and is the first skyscraper in Northern Ontario.