PEI

Job growth comes with beer company's expansion

The P.E.I. Brewing Company is now selling its products in Alberta and British Columbia.

P.E.I. beer moves into western stores

P.E.I. Brewing Company beers, under the label Gahan, are available throughout the Maritimes, in Alberta and B.C., with expansion into Newfoundland planned. (P.E.I. Brewing Company)

The P.E.I. Brewing Company is now selling its products in Alberta and British Columbia.

The Island beer, under the brand name Gahan, is being sold in 39 Sobeys liquor stores in Alberta. The company, which started as a brew pub in downtown Charlottetown, is already selling into Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Jeff Squires, president and CEO of the P.E.I. Brewing Company, said the expansion is about more than spreading the beer around.

"As we add on more markets it's going to require more jobs in order to service it properly," said Squires.

"Right now, we're approximately 30 full and part-time staff. Less than a year and a half ago we were half a dozen. Within the last two years we've added 24 to 25 full- and part-time jobs."

Squires said the company is now working on expanding its markets in Newfoundland.