Labatt expands water can production to its Halifax brewery

(CNW Group/Labatt Breweries of Canada)

HALIFAX — On Jul. 11, Labatt Breweries of Canada announced the expansion of its water can production to Halifax, bolstering its Disaster Relief Program support across Canada. To try and ensure the success of this initiative, the Halifax brewery will temporarily halt beer production to focus its direct support on the Atlantic provinces while optimizing production capabilities for more water can distribution coast-to-coast.

Since launching its disaster relief program in 2012, Labatt has produced water cans at its hometown brewery in London, Ontario, providing safe drinking water to communities affected by disasters. In 2021, Labatt furthered the impact of its Disaster Relief Program by partnering with Team Rubicon Canada, a veteran-led humanitarian organization. Throughout its partnership, Labatt has leaned on the tactical expertise of Team Rubicon whenever those in need are in particularly hard-to-access areas.

“Labatt proves their dedication to communities during the toughest times,” says Bryan Riddell, CEO of Team Rubicon Canada. “Like Team Rubicon, Labatt also understands the importance of having local resources ready when disaster strikes. We’re honoured to partner with Labatt as they bolster support for the Atlantic provinces.”

To meet increasing demands, Labatt is now also producing water cans at its Halifax brewery investing $120,000 in new manufacturing technology. This addition frees up the London brewery to focus production on the consumer demand of beers and ready-to-drink beverages, while leveraging the Halifax brewery’s flexibility and production capacity to maximize volume.

“We are incredibly proud to have Halifax selected as a production hub for our cans of safe drinking water,” said Wade Keller, Director of Corporate Affairs, Atlantic Canada, Labatt Breweries of Canada. “This decision underscores our commitment to the region and highlights the importance of our collaboration with government bodies, Team Rubicon Canada, and other key stakeholders. We have the right team in place to ensure the highest quality, recognizing that water, while essential to our brewing process, is also a vital commodity for every Canadian. By working together, we’re providing timely and essential aid to communities during disasters, demonstrating our dedication to supporting Canadians when they need it most.”