ARMADA, MI, July 1, 2024 – Blake’s Beverage Firm, the nation’s second largest impartial cider firm and the collaborative voice of three main cider manufacturers, Blake’s Onerous Cider, Austin Eastciders, and AVID Cider Co., declares the latest addition to its crew, Ryan Burk as Vice President of High quality & Innovation.
With a lifelong ardour for apples and cider, Ryan has performed pivotal roles in shaping a few of the nation’s most formidable and industry-defining cider packages, together with main Advantage Cider in Michigan and propelling Offended Orchard to new heights as Head Cider Maker.
From rising up within the epicenter of New York State apple manufacturing to main a few of the US’s most formidable and {industry} defining cider packages, Burk has spent a lifetime with apples and cider. Burk grew up in Williamson, N.Y., often known as “The Core of Apple Nation,” the place his early experiences fermenting cider with associates sparked his lifelong dedication to cidermaking. He established his profession as a outstanding cider maker at Advantage Cider in Michigan earlier than becoming a member of Offended Orchard, the place he led analysis, improvement, and experimentation at its cider home in Walden, N.Y.
Ryan left Offended Orchard in 2022 to pursue his personal endeavors, together with co-founding Really feel Items Firm, an revolutionary model and pipeline improvement studio for craft drinks, and Occam Cider Co., a boutique cider label.
As a devoted {industry} advocate, he has served on the board of The American Cider Affiliation and was a founding board member and present President of The Cider Institute of North America. He has been acknowledged by Imbibe 75 Individuals to Watch, Wine Fanatic’s 40 Underneath 40, and The Buena Cofradía de los Siceratores de Asturias and has collaborated with cooks in kitchens around the globe, from small yard gatherings to The James Beard Basis. He’s a frequent visitor lecturer on the Culinary Institute of America.
“It’s been a ardour of mine to carry cider to life on the desk. I’m extremely excited to affix the crew at Blake’s Beverage Firm. Their dedication to innovation and excellence is driving the cider class,” stated Burk. “I sit up for rising alongside Blake’s sturdy management and strategic imaginative and prescient as we craft what cider may be.”
Ryan joins an already spectacular lineup of {industry} powerhouses at Blake’s Beverage Firm:
- World Commerce Advertising and marketing Director Rachel Foaté has practically a decade of expertise in commerce advertising and marketing and gross sales, not too long ago becoming a member of from Anheuser-Busch InBev, the place she led partaking commerce advertising and marketing multi-channel campaigns, developed impactful shopper technique, and enhanced model visibility and gross sales progress.
- President Chase Kushak has years of expertise in technique and course of improvement and operations administration, together with time as the previous COO of Founders Brewing Co. rising them to the #9 craft brewery within the nation.
- North Gross sales Vice President Scott Roberts has 24 years of gross sales and gross sales administration expertise at each the distributor and provider stage with stops at Craft Brew Alliance and Founders Brewing Co. earlier than becoming a member of the Blake’s crew in 2018.
- South Gross sales Vice President Kevin Cargile, who brings over 25 years of expertise navigating nationwide gross sales, has been with the Austin Eastciders and now Blake Beverage Firm crew since 2022. Beforehand he labored as Anheuser-Busch’s Gross sales Director in Houston and on the Nationwide Accounts crew at Gambrinus.
- World Director of Schooling Samantha Roberts co-founded AVID Cider Co. in 2012, changing into a number one cider producer within the Pacific Northwest earlier than changing into part of Blake’s Beverage Firm in 2023. Prior to now 12 years Sam has overseen every part at Avid from Manufacturing to HR and past.
- Founder and CEO Andrew Blake, additionally founding father of Blake’s Onerous Cider, whose visionary strategy and in depth information of the beverage {industry} has led to important progress and innovation for the corporate.
“We’re excited to welcome Ryan Burk to our crew! We’ve been big followers of his dedication to innovation within the beverage {industry} and his imaginative and prescient for cider,”stated Andrew Blake, Founder and CEO of Blake’s Beverage Firm. “His ardour and understanding for cider manufacturing goes to enhance our greatest in school crew. We’re pushing the boundaries of what cider is and 4th class drinks may be, and Ryan’s unmatched expertise will drive our mission to reclaim cider’s rightful place as America’s drink.”
Ryan will play a vital position in driving innovation, sustaining the best requirements of high quality, and fostering steady enchancment at Blake’s Beverage Firm. Leveraging his experience in cider making, model improvement, and high quality assurance, Ryan will spearhead efforts to introduce new daring flavors and contemporary substances to Blake’s lineup.
Blake’s Beverage Firm stays dedicated to innovation, high quality, and buyer satisfaction because it continues to push boundaries and set new requirements within the cider {industry}. For extra data on Blake’s Beverage Firm and its continued progress, go to blakesbevco.com.
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ABOUT BLAKE’S BEVERAGE COMPANY
Launched in 2023, Blake’s Beverage Firm is a collaboration of three industry-leading cider manufacturers urgent a singular mission to reclaim cider’s rightful place as America’s drink. With a nationwide footprint and cideries in Michigan, Texas, Oregon, and New York, Blake’s Beverage Firm maintains a ardour for daring, fruit-forward drinks, contemporary substances, and a dedication to craft. Discover ciders from Michigan’s prime cidery Blake’s Onerous Cider, Texas’ prime cidery Austin Eastciders, and Oregon’s AVID Cider Co. at retail in 30 states. For extra data on Blake’s Beverage Firm and its relentless dedication to the cider trigger, go to blakesbevco.com.
