Manjit Minhas
{{short description|Canadian entrepreneur and television personality}}
Manjit Minhas is a Canadian entrepreneur, television personality and angel investor. She is co-owner of Minhas Breweries & Distillery, manufacturer of beer brands such as Mountain Crest Classic Lager, Boxer Lager, Lazy Mutt Ale and Huber Bock.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/blog/meet-new-dragon-manjit-minhas |title=Dragons' Den |publisher=Cbc.ca |date= |accessdate=2015-07-23}} She specializes in marketing with interests in branding and sales. Minhas was announced as one of the new dragons on Season 10 of the Canadian reality television series Dragons' Den in 2015 for its tenth season.{{cite web|url=http://business.financialpost.com/entrepreneur/dragons-den-adds-snapsaves-creator-michele-romanow-minhas-breweries-founder-manjit-minhas?__lsa=409a-69ad |title=Dragons' Den adds Snapsaves creator Michele Romanow, Minhas Breweries' founder Manjit Minhas | Financial Post |publisher=Business.financialpost.com |date= |accessdate=2015-07-23}} According to the Dragons Den website she has "been recognized for several business industry awards such as PROFIT magazine's "Top Growth Entrepreneur", Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs in Canada, Canada's Top 40 under 40, Chatelaine Magazine's "Top Entrepreneur Woman of The Year 2011", Ernst and Young's Entrepreneur of The Year Prairie Region and The Sikh Centennial Foundation Award 2015."{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/dragons/manjit-minhas |title=Dragons' Den |publisher=Cbc.ca |date= |accessdate=2017-12-01}} Minhas's philanthropic causes include The United Way, which she co-chaired in 2017 {{cite web|url=http://www.calgaryunitedway.org/latest-news/579-2017-campaign-co-chairs-announced |title=2017 Campaign Co-Chairs Announced |publisher=calgaryunitedway.org |date= |accessdate=2017-12-01}} and an engineering school for girls in India. Minhas joined the ATB Financial Board of Directors in 2017 and is on both the Governance and Conduct Review, and the Human Resources Committees.{{cite web|url=http://www.atb.com/about/Pages/directors.aspx |title=Directors |publisher=atb.com |date= |accessdate=2017-12-15}} She joined the Calgary Airport Authority Board of Directors in 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.yyc.com/en-us/calgaryairportauthority/abouttheauthority/boardofdirectors.aspx |title=YYC Board of Directors |publisher=YYC.com |date= |accessdate=2021-05-26}}
Minhas was named a recipient of the 1st Alumni of Influence Award{{cite web |title=Alumni of Influence Award |url=https://jasab.ca/alumni-award/ |website=JA Southern Alberta |accessdate=21 February 2020}} in 2017 by JA Southern Alberta at the Calgary Business Hall of Fame induction ceremony.{{cite web |title=The 2017 Calgary Business Hall of Fame takes place tonight! |url=https://jasab.ca/blog/2017/10/26/2017-calgary-business-hall-fame-takes-place-tonight/ |website=JA Southern Alberta |accessdate=21 February 2020}} Other notable Canadian JA alumni have included marketing executive Jennifer Wilnechenko (British Columbia),{{cite web |title=About JA Alumni BC |url=https://www.jaalumnibc.com/about |website=JA Alumni British Columbia |accessdate=21 February 2020}} executive director of The DMZ at Ryerson University Abdullah Snobar (Ontario),{{cite web |title=JA Central Ontario Governors' Dinner (2018) - JA Alumni Panel |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Evd6aIg5HAI |website=YouTube | date=24 January 2019 |accessdate=21 February 2020}} and young philanthropist Ben Sabic (Manitoba).{{cite web |title=2009-2010 Annual Report |url=http://jacan.org/sites/default/files/2009-10_ja_annual_report.pdf |website=Junior Achievement of Manitoba |accessdate=21 February 2020}} She is also a recipient for the 2018 Canada's 40 under 40 award.{{Cite web|url=https://www.canadastop40under40.com/honourees-2018abc.html|title=Canada's Top 40 Under 40 - Honourees 2018|website=canadastop40under40.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-11-08}}
Personal life
Minhas was enrolled in engineering programs at the University of Calgary and University of Regina, but after a few years, her focus changed to entrepreneurship and she decided to concentrate on creating and marketing businesses. In the early 2000s Minhas designed her own marketing brand and commenced creating a diverse line of beers, lagers, spirits and various supplementary alcohol products. The Minhas Brand has grown into a brand that has recognition with alcohol enthusiasts due to Minhas's marketing strategies.{{cite web|url=https://manjitminhas.com/bio-beer-industry-to-dragons-den-canada/ |title=Manjit's Story and Journey |publisher=majitminhas.com |date= |accessdate=2018-01-06}} Minhas resides with her husband Harvey Shergill and two daughters in Calgary, Alberta.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/blog/meet-new-dragon-manjit-minhas |title=Meet New Dragon Manjit Minhas! – Dragons' Den |publisher=Cbc.ca |date=2015-03-24 |accessdate=2015-07-23}} Minhas's family is Sikh Dogra.{{cite web|url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1317504-a-dragon%E2%80%99s-entrepreneurial-spirit-minhas-built-155m-brewery-from-scratch|title=A dragon's entrepreneurial spirit: Minhas built $155m brewery from scratch|work=The Chronicle Herald}}
Business
Minhas and her brother Ravinder entered the alcohol industry in 1999, while both siblings were students at the University of Calgary. Their first endeavour was importing private label spirits for a chain of liquor stores owned by their parents.{{cite web|author=Murad Hemmadi |url=http://www.profitguide.com/manage-grow/success-stories/6-entrepreneurial-lessons-from-new-dragon-manjit-minhas-84358 |title=6 Entrepreneurial Lessons from New Dragon Manjit Minhas |publisher=PROFITguide.com |date=2015-06-24 |accessdate=2015-07-23}} The siblings began importing beer in 2002.
In 2006, the Mountain Crest Brewing Company purchased the second-oldest brewery in the United States, the Joseph Huber Brewing Company, along with rights to the Huber and Rhinelander beer brands and Blumers soda brand. The Monroe brewery was renamed Minhas Craft Brewery.Tom Daykin, "Monroe's Huber Brewing sold: Canadian buyer agrees to buy beer and soda brands, plans to add workers." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 20, 2006 As of 2020, Minhas Craft Brewery is the 18th largest craft brewery in the United States and 28th overall.{{cite web|url=https://www.brewersassociation.org/press-releases/brewers-association-announces-top-50-brewing-companies-by-sales-volume-of-2019/|title=Brewers Association Press Release |date=2020-04-01 |accessdate=2022-06-21}}
In addition to producing such brands as Boxer Lager, Lazy Mutt Ale and Huber Bock, the Minhas Craft Brewery has also produced for other brewers and produces private label beers and spirits for retailers such as Costco, Trader Joe's, Lidl, Tesco and Walgreens.{{cite web|url=http://minhasbrewery.com/private-white-label-contract-packaging-for-beers-spirits-liqueurs/ |title=Private & Custom Label, White Label, Contract Packaging for beers, spirits & liqueurs |publisher=Minhasbrewery.com |date= |accessdate=2015-07-23}}
File:Manjit liquor Collage 1.jpg
A second brewery, the Minhas Micro Brewery, opened in Calgary, Alberta in June 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.canadianbeernews.com/2012/06/29/minhas-micro-brewery-close-to-opening-in-calgary/ |title=Minhas Micro Brewery Close to Opening in Calgary |publisher=Canadian Beer News |date=2012-06-29 |accessdate=2015-07-23}}
In addition to the Minhas Craft Brewery, is the Minhas Distillery, Minhas Winery and Minhas Kitchen are located in Monroe, Wisconsin.{{cite web|url=http://manjitminhas.com/brands-by-minhas-craft-brewery-and-distillery/ |title=Brands by Minhas |website=manjitminhas.com |date= |accessdate=2017-12-13}}
Combined, the Minhas Breweries & Distillery is a group of companies with a reported revenue of $155 million in 2014.
In March 2022, Minhas was appointed as Senior Advisor to Decibel Cannabis Company's Board of Directors. {{cite web|url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/decibel-appoints-manjit-minhas-as-senior-advisor-and-director-nominee-859765284.html|title=Decibel Appoints Manjit Minhas as Senior Advisor and Director Nominee |date=2022-03-21}} Minhas was subsequently nominated on November 21, 2022 to join Decibel's board. {{cite web|url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/decibel-announces-timing-of-annual-meeting-of-shareholders-and-new-director-nominees-840181672.html|title=Decibel Announces Timing of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and New Director Nominees |date=2022-11-21}}
Media appearances
Since starting her brewery Minhas's media presence has grown. Becoming a dragon on Dragon's Den has allowed her to become a well-known media figure. Minhas's candid personality {{cite web|url=http://www.canadianbusiness.com/leadership/manjit-minhas-dragons-den/ |title=Manjit Minhas is the biggest beer baron you've never heard of—yet |publisher=canadianbusiness.com |date= |accessdate=2017-12-13}} reflects her business style, which has made her a popular figure with audiences. She is an active speaker at many keynote events across Canada and United States and is represented by The Lavin Agency.{{cite web|url=http://www.thelavinagency.com/speakers/manjit-minhas |title=Manjit Minhas |publisher=thelavinagency.com |date=|accessdate=2017-12-13}} Minhas was a celebrity judge for the 2017 Calgary Stampede Annual Parade.{{cite web|url=https://www.wireservice.ca/index.php?module=News&func=display&sid=21533 |title=Media Release: Manjit Minhas to Celebrity Judge the 2017 Calgary Stampede Parade |publisher=wireservice.ca |date=|accessdate=2017-12-13}}
Lawsuit
Molson Brewery sued Mountain Crest Brewing in 2002 over similarities between the Minhas' flagship product and the Molson-owned product Old Style Pilsner. The matter was settled out of court.{{cite web |last=Daykin |first=Tom |url=http://www.jsonline.com/business/29477899.html |title=Crafting success |publisher=Jsonline.com |date=2007-09-30 |accessdate=2015-07-23 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918065753/http://www.jsonline.com/business/29477899.html |archivedate=2015-09-18 }}
Minhas claims competitors were behind an Ontario Provincial Police investigation that hindered her company's entry into the Ontario beer market in 2005.{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.canadianbusiness.com/leadership/manjit-minhas-dragons-den/ |title=Manjit Minhas is Canada's biggest beer baron you've never met |publisher=Canadianbusiness.com |date=2015-06-04 |accessdate=2015-07-23}} The investigation was eventually dropped and Boxer Lager was listed in Ontario's Beer Store chain in 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/2010/01/20/a_beerfuelled_grudge_match.html |title=A beer-fuelled grudge match | Toronto Star |work=Thestar.com |date=2010-01-20 |accessdate=2015-07-23}}
References
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Category:Businesspeople from Calgary
Category:Canadian people of Indian descent
Category:Canadian women in business