Duvel Moortgat & Boulevard Brewing Recap The First 100 Days

April 3, 2014 – Kansas City – On January 1st of this year, the partnership between Boulevard Brewing Company and Duvel Moortgat became official, and Boulevard joined Duvel’s existing U.S. operations, which included Brewery Ommegang of Cooperstown, NY and the import business of Belgian family brands. The company has combined senior management staff from Belgium, Kansas City and Cooperstown into a new U.S. leadership group, which hit the ground running. The team has developed an organizational structure and set priorities to facilitate continued growth while retaining the individual identities of Boulevard and Ommegang.

Daniel Krug, a 14-year veteran of the Belgium-based parent company, leads the expanded organization. The senior management team consists of John McDonald, Boulevard’s founder; Simon Thorpe, who heads the sales and marketing team; Jeff Krum, Boulevard’s CFO and leader of finance for the U.S.; and Koen Van Der Taelen, responsible for strategy and integration.

“We’ve come a long way in a short time,” said Krug. “The sales and marketing teams have been successfully combined, company financials have been merged, and we’re finalizing our list of capital projects. I credit the similarities in culture and DNA of the two family-owned companies, with our combined strengths and mutual obsession for outstanding beers, for making the first 100 days so successful. Every day I’m impressed anew with the talent, spirit and values of our people, and convinced more than ever that we made the right choice.”

“In the coming months, Boulevard will make significant investments to expand capacity and allow for continued growth, confirming our long-term commitment to Kansas City,” said McDonald. “We’re also reviewing possible investment opportunities at Ommegang. I couldn’t be more excited about our future.”

Led by Thorpe, who has been with Duvel Moortgat since 2009, the newly combined sales and marketing team represents Boulevard and Ommegang beers as well as European imports Duvel, Brasserie D’Achouffe, Maredsous, Liefmans and De Koninck. Reporting to Thorpe are Steve Mills, who oversees the sales force of almost 60 people; Jeremy Ragonese, who continues to manage marketing efforts for Boulevard; and Bill Wetmore, directing marketing for Ommegang and the import brands.

“The support we’ve received from wholesalers, retailers and consumers has been beyond our expectations,” Thorpe said. “We’re uniquely positioned in the industry, offering a variety of exceptional craft beers and imports in almost every major U.S. market. Our efforts are backed by a sales and marketing force in excess of 80 people, all of them experts on high-end beer.”

Other senior management at Boulevard remains intact. In addition to McDonald, Krum, Mills and Ragonese, brewmaster Steven Pauwels and director of engineering Mike Utz continue to lead day-to-day affairs of the regional craft brewer.
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