Molson Coors to quadruple hard seltzer production capacity in Canada

Molson Coors Beverage Company plans to boost hard seltzer production in Canada by 300% at full capacity with an investment of $82.6m (C$100m).

The company’s Toronto brewery will receive the majority of the investment for installing reverse osmosis and nanofiltration technology, a new flavour kitchen, a blender and a new sleek-can line.

Molson Coors plans to produce Vizzy and Coors Seltzer in-house at the facility by next year.

Molson Coors chief supply chain officer Brian Erhardt said: “The number one priority for our Canadian business is ramping up our hard seltzers to position ourselves as a top-share performer.

“These investments will help us control our own destiny on manufacturing, balancing production between our own facilities and trusted third parties.”

Erhardt further added that the company will continue to make use of its partners to produce hard seltzers and other beyond-beer beverages even after the in-house capacity is expanded.

The investment will be used to produce malt-based and spirit-based hard seltzers, as well as other beverages for the Canadian market.

Additionally, the investment will enable the brewery to produce other products such as tea-based beverages.

The new can line at the brewery will have the capacity to handle 1.5 million hectolitres (hl) of production annually.

Molson Coors Canada chief commercial officer Martin Coyle said: “The entire Canadian organisation is aligned to making seltzer our number one goal in this launch year, and you can see it in stores across Canada.”

In March, Molson Coors Beverage Company became the first major brewer in the UK to produce its beers using 100% renewable energy.

The company, which produces beer brands such as Carling, Coors and Doom Bar, signed a power purchase agreement with renewable energy company RWE to supply clean energy from the Tween Bridge wind farm in South Yorkshire to power its operation in the UK.