What began as a modest venture in 2009 by brothers Justin and Tyler Catalana, Mill Valley Beer Works was a celebration of love for craft beer and San Francisco. As their first restaurant and brewery gained popularity, the business soon blossomed into a larger-scale operation, giving rise to Fort Point Beer Company in 2014.
Now employing 200 people, Fort Point is rapidly gaining fans in California and beyond. The expansion of Fort Point Beer Company has been punctuated by significant milestones, including its foray into the cider business. The journey, however, was not without its challenges. Transitioning from a small, three-barrel brewery to a production brewery — while operating from spreadsheets and outdated software — was unsustainable.
As Fort Point expanded its production and ventured into the vibrant landscape of bars and restaurants in San Francisco, Justin and his team recognized the complexities inherent in the transition to a full-fledged production powerhouse. Fort Point also decided to forgo traditional distributors and distribute itself. The intricacies of managing costs, batch production and supply chain logistics demanded an efficient and modern solution. It was very apparent that the brewery’s current mix of software solutions no longer fit the bill.
The Search for Modern Brewery ERP
In their pursuit of a more agile and advanced system, Fort Point initially implemented another brewery ERP system, only to find it falling short of their expectations. “We were finding that the ERP we were on just felt really antiquated. Every time we wanted to do something, it was an uphill battle,” said Justin.
It was during this pivotal juncture that they crossed paths with Crafted ERP Brewery Edition, which resonated with their vision for modernization and growth. The decision to implement Crafted was underpinned by its contemporary interface, seamless integration capabilities and the promise of continuous evolution, aligning with Fort Point’s ethos of forward-thinking innovation. “Knowing that Crafted was built on NetSuite and it was web-based and more modern was a big part of the decision-making process,” explained Justin.
The implementation process, spearheaded by the knowledgeable and supportive team at Doozy Solutions, marked a significant shift in Fort Point’s operational efficiency. The seamless integration of internal software and programs further streamlined their processes, amplifying the collaborative synergy between Fort Point and Crafted.
“One of the other things weighing in quite a bit was that we built some internal software and internal programs we wanted to integrate with our ERP,” shared Justin. “The integration options and how open the API is with Crafted made that one of the final reasons we switched to the Crafted platform.”
The responsiveness of the Doozy team, coupled with their prompt and effective problem-solving approach, fortified Fort Point’s trust in the partnership and cemented Crafted as an indispensable asset in their journey.
Flexibility in the Face of Growth and Diversification
As the brewery grew, so did the demand for its beers. When Fort Point decided to outsource some of its production to a contract brewing facility, staff was pleased to find that Crafted brewery software could support the additional complexities with ease. Leaders reported a seamless operational transition, including inventory and tax management.
Recently, Fort Point decided to venture beyond the traditional brewing world and debut a line of ciders. “While there are a lot of similarities between beer and cider, there are also a lot of differences. The Crafted platform was able to adapt in the ways we needed, and it was straightforward to start processing cider through the software as well,” Justin told us.
The flexibility and adaptability of Crafted’s brewery ERP accommodated this expansion by managing the complexities of its rapidly growing multi-site and multi-license operations. From incorporating the intricacies of cider production to seamlessly transitioning into contract brewing, Crafted ERP proved instrumental in Fort Point’s journey of diversification and expansion.
Empowering Strategic Decision-Making and Insights
One of the remarkable outcomes of adopting brewery ERP software was the newfound insight into Fort Point’s cost management, enabling the team to meticulously dissect the components contributing to the final cost of each product. This enhanced visibility into their cost of goods sold and overall gross profit bolstered their strategic decision-making, granting them a competitive edge in the dynamic craft beer market.
A Symbiotic Relationship of Growth and Support
Amidst the continuous growth and expansion, the partnership with Crafted ERP evolved into a symbiotic relationship, with the Doozy team assuming the role of trusted advisors, offering invaluable insights and solutions tailored to Fort Point’s evolving needs.
“Every day and every year that goes by, we become increasingly intertwined and get much more out of the brewery ERP,” concludes Justin. “You know, that didn’t all happen at once, but it’s a continuous growing process.”
The collective efforts of the Fort Point team and the dedicated support from Doozy exemplify the power of collaboration in fostering sustainable business growth and resilience.
Redefine the Possibilities by Leveraging Modern Brewery Software
Fort Point Beer Company’s success story is a testament to the transformative impact of leveraging innovative technology in driving operational efficiency, fostering growth and embracing adaptability in a dynamic industry. With Crafted ERP Brewery Edition, Fort Point continues to redefine the boundaries of possibility and innovation in the craft beverage industry, setting the stage for a future brimming with opportunity and potential.
Breweries looking to ramp up production or expand into new product lines can benefit from a flexible, scalable brewery ERP. Whether you’re new in the game or an established business, our team is here to advise you on a customized technology strategy. Contact us today to chart the path to sustainable brewery growth with Crafted ERP.
