Unionized employees of Anchor Brewing Co. are rallying together to save the 127-year-old San Francisco brewery from being shuttered. Last week, Anchor announced that it would be ceasing operations, citing unsustainable business conditions. In response, the union members of the brewery have launched an effort to purchase the company and prevent its liquidation.
In a statement, Anchor Brewing spokesperson Sam Singer confirmed that the union had expressed their intention to buy the brewery. Singer clarified that the purchase would be pursued by an unidentified group of Anchor employees, rather than the union itself. Singer expressed the company’s willingness to consider a bona-fide offer from the employees, provided that it includes verifiable sources of funds.
The union members are now strategizing on how to raise the necessary funds to make the purchase. According to the union’s Twitter account, employees believe that this effort will be “way bigger than a gofundme” and are seeking the most calculated approach. They are overwhelmed with the responses for help and are working behind the scenes to figure out the best possible way to raise the funds.
Anchor Brewing’s decision to shut down came as a shock to San Francisco’s beer enthusiasts. The company cited factors such as product costs, a highly competitive craft beer market, and the historically costly steam brewing technique as reasons for its inability to sustain operations. The announcement of the closure led to a 4000% increase in national sales of Anchor’s beers in the following days.
While Anchor Brewing is open to the possibility of an employee purchase, Singer emphasized that time is running short. The company is moving forward with plans to transfer its assets through an assignment for the benefit of creditors in early August.
The efforts of the Anchor Brewing union members to save the company represent a fight against the tide of brewery closures and consolidations that have hit the craft beer industry in recent years. The outcome of their endeavor will determine the fate of this beloved San Francisco institution.