Nova Scotia distillery gears up to meet demand
News release
New equipment allows Coldstream Clear Distillery Ltd to build on success of ready-to-drink products
December 8, 2020 · Stewiacke, Nova Scotia · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Small and medium-sized businesses that scale-up their operations help to create jobs and grow the local economy. Nova Scotia’s first producer of vodka-soda beverages, Coldstream Clear Distillery Ltd, is installing new manufacturing equipment at its Truro facility to meet growing demand for its products.
Federal government supports scale-up of Atlantic Canadian distillery
Today, Lenore Zann, Member of Parliament for Cumberland–Colchester, on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, announced a repayable contribution of $850,000 to Coldstream Clear Distillery Ltd to support the project.
The funding will enable the company to buy advanced manufacturing equipment so it can develop new products and more than triple its current production capacity. The increased production will allow Coldstream to grow its skilled workforce and meet demand for its ready-to-drink beverages outside of Atlantic Canada.
Small and medium-sized enterprises are critical to Canada’s economic recovery. Today’s announcement further demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment to help Canadian businesses not just survive, but thrive, in the new global reality.
Quotes
“When we help small and medium-sized businesses innovate and sell more products, we are helping them create good-paying jobs for Atlantic Canadians and contribute to the region’s economic success. Today’s announcement underscores our commitment to supporting the food and beverage sector, keeping the industry strong throughout the global COVID-19 crisis.”
- The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA
“Coldstream Clear Distillery is a great rural Nova Scotian company that has achieved success by making quality products that match consumer tastes. We are pleased to be able to help it adapt and respond to growing local market demand and expand into new markets.”
- Lenore Zann, Member of Parliament for Cumberland – Colchester
“The expansion that ACOA is assisting with will allow Coldstream to supply beyond the Maritime provinces while providing more skilled jobs here. Upon completion, this will be the largest and most technologically advanced ready-to-drink production facility in Atlantic Canada.”
- Riley Giffen, President, Coldstream Clear Distillery Ltd
Quick facts
-
The new processing equipment will increase the distillery’s production and packaging line from 72 cans per minute to over 250 cans per minute.
-
One of sixteen distilleries in Nova Scotia, Coldstream Clear Distillery currently has eight ready-to-drink products on the market.
- The ready-to-drink product group is the fastest-growing category at the Nova Scotia Liquor Commission (NSLC), with sales increasing by 89% from June 2019 to June 2020.
-
The NSLC reported $7.8 million in revenue from Nova Scotia ready-to drink products in 2019.
-
The funding announced today is provided through ACOA’s Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program, which helps businesses adopt innovative technologies that support scale-up, productivity, and competitiveness.
Contacts
Catherine Mounier-Desrochers
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages
Catherine.Mounier-Desrochers@canada.ca
Chris Brooks
Communications Director, Nova Scotia
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
902-830-3839
chris.brooks@canada.ca
Olivia Giffen
Marketing Director
Coldstream Clear Distillery Ltd
902-956-1885
olivia@coldstreamclear.com
Stay connected
Follow ACOA on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.