Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management
B-Corp Case Studies by UNL Raikes Seniors
Date of this Version
Spring 2025
Document Type
Article
Citation
Bode, B., Brockmeier, C., Hammann, Z., Kling, C., Ruth, J., Selzer, J. (2023). New Belgium Brewing: Balancing Growth and Company Values Post-Acquisition. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Abstract
New Belgium Brewing was founded in 1991 by Jeff Lebesch and Kim Jordan in Fort Collins, Colorado, famously inspired by a bicycle tour through Belgium, with "environmental stewardship" viewed as a core value from day one (New Belgium Brewing, nd). From its earliest years, New Belgium had set out to prove that a brewery could be a successful business while also being a force for good. The company implemented open-book management and a profit-sharing program that allowed employees as early as 1998 to vote and give up bonuses to invest in a wind-powered brewery in the U.S. (New Belgium Brewing, nd). New Belgium also launched a "$1 per barrel" philanthropy fund in 1995, which embedded charity into its growth. In 2008, it also conducted one of the very first carbon footprint analyses of beer, and by 2013 New Belgium had earned Certified B Corporation status for meeting challenging social and environmental performance standards (Marquis, 2020). New Belgium was becoming a testament to ESG success in their field. The brewery also became the first in the industry to join 1% For The Planet, meaning they commit 1% of annual sales to environmental causes (Marquis, 2020). These initiatives solidified the reputation of New Belgium Brewing as a power for sustainability with the mission: "to demonstrate that business can be a force for good" (New Belgium Brewing, nd).