Tracing the evolution of Canada’s Labatt brewery from its colonial beginnings until its sale to Belgium-based Interbrew
For decades, the name Labatt was synonymous with beer in Canada, but no longer. Brewed in the North traces the birth, growth, and demise of one of the nation’s oldest and most successful breweries.
Opening a window into Canada’s complicated relationship with beer, Matthew Bellamy examines the strategic decisions taken by a long line of Labatt family members and professional managers from the 1840s, when John Kinder Labatt entered the business of brewing in the Upper Canadian town of London, to the globalization of the industry in the 1990s. Spotlighting the challenges involved as Labatt executives adjusted to external shocks – the advent of the railway, Prohibition, war, the Great Depression, new forms of competition, and free trade – Bellamy offers a case study of success and failure in business. Through Labatt’s lively history from 1847 to 1995, this book explores the wider spirit of Canadian capitalism, the interplay between the state’s moral economy and enterprise, and the difficulties of creating popular beer brands in a country that is regionally, linguistically, and culturally diverse.
A comprehensive look at one of the industry’s most iconic firms, Brewed in the North sheds light on what it takes to succeed in the business of Canadian brewing.
Reviews
“This finely crafted study is a brilliant piece of Canadian business history. Brewed in the North goes beyond Labatt’s to provide a study of a whole industry within Canada and abroad. The book is chock-full of fascinating information on the evolving processes of making beer, the marketing of the firm’s products, and strategies for survival in a highly controversial industry.” Craig Heron, York University
“Brewed in the North makes for a top choice for beer lovers. Best enjoyed with a six-pack of underrated 50 fresh from the brewery, I’d say.” The London Free Press
“Brewed in the North is probably the most comprehensive look at Labatt’s past. Anyone who enjoys learning about corporate decision-making, the people behind the decisions and their successes and missteps will enjoy this book. The author struck gold by landing on a treasure trove of previously unpublished corporate documents and a detail-rich history of Labatt that it had commissioned from historian Albert Tucker.” The Globe & Mail
“Brewed in the North is a striking story, and Bellamy tells it well. He has a command of business history but does not beat us over the head with theory or complete marketing lingo. The book is an impressive achievement.” Literary Review of Canada
McGill – Queen’s University Press 464 Pages, 6.5 x 9.25, 58 B&W photos ISBN 9780773559158 October 2019 Formats: Cloth, eBook $34.95 CDN
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