Manjit Minhas

One of North America's Most Exciting Entrepreneurs; Founder of the 11th Largest Brewery in the World

The Minhas School of Beer Business Success

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THE LATEST: Manjit Minhas is set to open a new brewery in Calgary. Read about it HERE. She has also been profiled in The Financial Post's Executive Women series. Read the profile HERE.

Manjit Minhas, the petroleum engineering student turned beer baroness, is one of North America's most exciting entrepreneurs. The alcohol industry has always been an old boys club, dominated by the male-run businesses of old. Minhas has been able to do what few ever thought possible -- start from nothing and successfully enter the beer and spirits industry, undoubtedly one of the most competitive markets around, all as a young female entrepreneur. Minhas started Mountain Crest Liquors Inc. (MCLI) at the ripe age of 19 in Alberta. In late 2002 she entered the beer market in Alberta with her brother and gave the big boys a run for their money with Mountain Crest Classic Lager and became the first successful beer company to enter Canada in decades. After purchasing the second oldest brewery in the USA, their brewery is now the 11th largest in the world, selling quality beers in the USA, Canada and overseas to the markets of Japan and Korea. In 2009, Minhas's companies had revenues in excess of $85 million. Not bad for a mother in her early 30's.

Manjit has single-handedly caused a stir in the Canadian beer industry by gaining huge market share in a short amount of time with her aggressive marketing and advertising techniques and her pricing strategies. A testament to the entrepreneurial spirit, Minhas's story shows that no market is impenetrable, and that sharp business sense and guts can shake a once stagnant market to its core. Minhas is also the first brewer in Canada to voluntarily put a Management Warning on all her beer cans. The Management Warnings include such direct statements as "Please do not drink and drive -- ever", "Expectant mothers should avoid drinking alcoholic products" and "Enjoy this product responsibly - Respect yourself and others". Her commitment to ethical business is one of the many reasons why her ventures have been so widely successful. Minhas and her story have been featured in many publications such as Macleans Magazine, Canadian Business Magazine, The Globe & Mail, and have been featured on TV in programs such as the CBC National News with Peter Mansbridge, and CBC Venture.

Manjit Minhas Speech Topic

The Minhas School of Beer Business Success

Manjit Minhas started as a 19 year old with $10,000 and a dream. Today, her brewery is the 11th largest in the world. How did a young female entrepreneur manage to break into one of the toughest markets in the world? In this talk, Manjit Minhas shares the principles and entrepreneurial values that has led her company to rapid success -- principles she calls "The Minhas School of Beer Business Success." Why is trust one of the most important aspects of business? How can you identify the market gaps your competitors are ignoring, and use them to your advantage? How can you successfully market your product on a small budget? Minhas is as down to earth as she is business savvy, and shares her remarkable story with sincerity and verve. This is a fantastic talk that will enlighten entrepreneurs, students, and businesspeople of all industries, ages and genders.

VIDEOS

ARTICLES

"Keepers of the cask" - Financial Post

"Minhas Micro Brewery to open Calgary facility" - Calgary Herald

"Big dreams brewing for female entrepreneurs" - The Globe and Mail

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