Craft Beverages
Canada’s dynamic brewing industry is evolving at a rapid pace. From the biggest multi-billion-dollar companies to local craft breweries, significant growth over the last decade has been marked by stiff competition and changing consumer preferences.
More options on shelves have made it vital for all breweries, from those just starting out to those that have been operating for decades, to set themselves apart from the rest.
Declining beer sales at a national level, increased market saturation, and increasing cost pressures have inspired innovation and pushed many breweries into the canned cocktails, non-alcoholic beers, and sodas space.
Managing growth, increasing profitability, and streamlining operations are at the core of what MNP’s team of specialists work to achieve for clients in the craft beverages space. From helping deliver industry expertise to offering scalable solutions to enhance business operations, MNP advisors can turn dreams into reality for breweries of all sizes.
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Planning for long-term success in your craft brewery
Whether you’re hoping to grow your brewery or position the business for sale down the road, setting yourself up for success means looking ahead.
How we can help
Advisory
Understanding your business’ financial performance, strategies, and goals is vital to ensuring risks are mitigated and opportunities are pursued. MNP’s team can ensure you are leveraging your financial performance to make sound, data-driven business decisions in real-time.
Consulting
Within the wide range of services MNP’s consulting team offers, many craft breweries find benefits in business and strategic planning to support the start up of a craft brewery or throughout a phase of growth for established businesses.
Tax and compliance
Whether it’s annual compliance procedures such as audits, reviews, or compilations, MNP’s tax team will ensure you’re meeting deadlines on returns and that you’re using the right corporate structure to get the most out of your business.
Digital solutions
From tracking production and scheduling to real time cost analysis, an Enterprise Resource Planning platform can provide an all-in-one view of your business and look at it’s data in a new way. MNP’s team will help you get started and understand how the program works while offering support along the way.
Corporate finance
Mergers and acquisitions are very complex transactions. Whether it’s assistance in selling your brewery, sourcing financing to fund your growth strategy, due diligence on an impending transaction, or other M&A activity – you require innovative and effective corporate finance solutions tailored to your specific needs.
Market trends
Here are a few of the ongoing, and persistent trends, we’re seeing across the industry:
- Alternative beverages including ready-to-drink cocktails, seltzers, and non-alcoholic beers are placing pressure on craft beer markets across Canada.
- Mergers and acquisitions are accelerating among craft breweries to increase market share, differentiate into new markets, improve purchasing power, and boost margins.
Plan your next move with the Craft Beverage Webinar Series:
Optimizing your business performance amid a shifting economy
Exploring exit strategies in the brewery industry
Insights
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Agility
April 29, 2025
Rethinking growth: How Canadian wineries can adapt to a shifting landscape
Tariffs, shifting tastes, and trade barriers are reshaping Canadian wine. Here’s how producers can respond and unlock new opportunities for growth.
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Performance
April 07, 2025
How can you boost performance at your food and beverage business? From managing inventory to investment
Food production is a competitive industry. Seizing these opportunities can help improve performance and differentiate your food and beverage business.
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Performance
March 13, 2025
Tariffs and trade: The direct and indirect impacts for Canada’s food and beverage industry
Tariffs are driving up costs and disrupting supply chains in Canada’s food and beverage industry. Here’s how businesses can adapt and stay competitive.
Contact Our Craft Beverages Teams
Matt MacDonald MBA
National Leader, Food & Beverage Processing
Matt is MNP’s National Leader of the Firm’s Food and Beverage Processing practice and a Business Advisor, Assurance and Accounting, in Mississauga. Matt proactively helps clients manage their business and set strategic goals for both their personal and professional futures. By leveraging his extensive experience working with family businesses and clients across multiple sectors, Matt helps his clients implement practical business advisory, tax, and accounting strategies, along with strong business fundamentals.
An active participant in the food and beverage processing industry and various associations across Canada, Matt brings more than 15 years of experience to his role as a trusted advisor.
Matt received an Honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) in political science and economics from McMaster University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in executive leadership and finance from Liberty University.
Matt has extensive board experience in both the private and not-for-profit sectors, most recently serving as a national director for Make-A-Wish Canada. He sits on the Oakville Chamber of Commerce board of directors.