Brewbound is pleased to announce that Simon Thorpe, the president and CEO of Duvel Moortgat USA and Brewery Ommegang, will be joining the Brewbound Session conference taking place on May 2 in Boston.
The full-day event is geared towards the strategic development of craft beer businesses. It will be held at the Revere Hotel in downtown Boston.
Now in his fourth year at the helm, Thorpe has helped Brewery Ommegang become one of the highest-margin craft beer brands for many of the company’s distribution partners. Thorpe’s presentation will include specific discussion on branding as well as comparisons to other beverage alcohol segments, but it will focus on beer’s potential as a top-shelf, luxury item.
In an effort to help craft beer entrepreneurs explore a variety of business models, Thorpe will present Brewery Ommegang as the focus of a case study on the profitability of a luxury craft beer brand. Thorpe will explain how Brewery Ommegang is building the super high-end beer segment as an alternative to chasing larger production volumes. By providing key insights and pertinent data, he will present an argument for the margin-driven brewery business model.
“As the craft beer segment continues to become more populated, it’s increasingly important for brands that want to grow to stand out on the shelf,” said John Craven, the founder of BevNET.com and Brewbound. “We think the insight into how Brewery Ommegang is carving out a high-end craft beer segment as a way to separate itself from competitors will be valuable for all of our attendees.”
An early registration discount is available from now through April 1. Please visit https://www.bevnet.com/conference/register/brewbound to register.
About Simon Thorpe:
Simon Thorpe is President & CEO of Duvel Moortgat USA, a Belgian, family-owned company specializing in brewing super-premium, luxury beers in Europe and North America. Simon joined Duvel Moortgat in 2009 and has overseen the growth of the company’s US business from a small base to its current position as a leader in the luxury beer segment. Duvel Moortgat’s beers include Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown NY and a world-class portfolio of authentic Belgian imports including Duvel, Chouffe, Liefmans, Mardesous, and De Koninck.
Prior to joining the company, Simon spent time in private equity in Europe focused on luxury goods and was previously Head of M&A for InBev and President/CEO of InBev USA. In a career spanning Beer, Restaurants & Foodservice, Art & Stationery; Food; and Personal Care categories in Asia, Eastern and Western Europe and the Americas, he has also served as Group Commercial Director for Compass Plc, Division President for Crayola, and Head of Strategy and Marketing at Kelloggs. His early career was with Tambrands (P&G) and Unilever.Simon was born and educated in England, and has spent 12 years in Belgium and 15 years in the USA. He lives in Cooperstown, NY.
About the Brewbound Session:
The Brewbound Craft Beer Session is a business conference addressing the topics that most directly impact the decisions craft brewers are faced with as they look to grow their brands. The event focuses on the business side of craft, offering brewers a unique opportunity to learn from and network with industry experts.