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Boston Beer Co. founder Jim Koch returns to CEO role

Boston Beer Co. founder Jim Koch returns to CEO role

Boston Globea day ago
Koch had been chief executive since launching the company in 1984 until January 2001, and has remained its chairman and a regular presence in investor presentations, as well as public pitchman for the company. Koch, 76, has effectively maintained control of the company, even though it's publicly traded, through a special category of voting shares he holds.
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Spillane, a former Nike executive, was tapped to be CEO roughly a year and a half ago, taking over for Dave Burwick, who now leads Spindrift, the seltzer and soda company.
Spillane took charge of Boston Beer at a time of tumult in the craft beer industry, as smaller brewers race to consolidate amid flagging consumer demand. Shares in Boston Beer have fallen nearly 40 percent over the time Spillane has been CEO. However, in the first six months of this year, the company saw financial success: Net revenue after excise taxes rose 3.6 percent, to more than $1 billion, due to increased sales volume and pricing, and net income rose more than 30 percent from the same time in 2024.
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Boston Beer long ago broadened its portfolio beyond its flagship Samuel Adams beers. The product lineup now includes Dogfish Head beer, spiked iced tea (Twisted Tea, Sun Cruiser), ciders (Angry Orchard), spiked soda (HARD MTN DEW), and hard seltzer (Truly). The company employs around 2,500 people, including around 500 in Massachusetts.
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