Aficionados can become co-owners of craft beer brewery Jopen
Become a co-owner of craft beer brewery Jopen in Haarlem
Become a co-owner of craft beer brewery Jopen in Haarlem
Michel Ordeman and Lydian Zoetman - owners of craft beer brewery Jopen
Aficionados and fans have the chance to become co-owners of the craft beer brewery Jopen, based in the Jopen Church at the center of the Dutch city of Haarlem. The proceeds from the crowdfunding campaign will be used by the craft beer brewery for growth, sustainability and innovation. All investors will be invited to the (J)Open Crowd Event; a beer festival for all investors. In addition, depending on how many shares someone buys, the brewery will offer various rewards, such as discounts on beer and fun goodies.
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Ambition of craft beer brewery Jopen
Jopen began almost 30 years ago as a civic initiative. In 1994, the year that Haarlem celebrated 750 years of city rights, a group of enthusiasts tried to revive the city’s brewing tradition. They more than succeeded: craft beer brewery Jopen, named after the barrels in which beer was transported during earlier times in Haarlem, has since grown into the largest craft beer brewery in the Netherlands. Jopen beer from Haarlem is sold in 2,300 on-trade outlets and 5,600 shops, and is exported to 18 countries.
Yet there is still plenty of ambition to grow further: “Lydian and I often say to each other that we have only just started,” says founder Michel Ordeman, who manages the company together with his wife Lydian Zoetman. “We still have a lot of plans and we see a lot of growth opportunities for craft beer in general and Jopen Beer in particular. We prefer to do that together with a group of loyal fans and aficionados.”
Investing in pasteurization and a filling line
To realize its intended growth, Jopen launched a crowdfunding campaign at the end of last year. Interested parties can buy certificates of shares, making them co-owners of the brewery. Investments start from €235.32. The target amount of the campaign is €2.5 million.
With the capital raised, Jopen Beer wants to focus on growth and sustainability. Ordeman: “A new high-quality filling line for cans is planned, as well as modernization and making the building more sustainable.” Also on the wish list is the renovation of the Jopen church – Jopen’s flagship in the center of Haarlem – and its own pasteurization line for non-alcoholic beers.
‘Jobligations’
This is not the first time Jopen Beer has sought co-owners. In 1997, the brewery attracted its first group of investors by selling ‘Jobligations’. Many of these investors are still involved with the brewery. “Like our colleagues, they feel like one big Jopen family,” Ordeman said. “Every year around Saint Maarten Day (November 11), they are invited and updated on the state of affairs. Now it is time to also make the rest of the Netherlands part of our family”. The plan is to expand the annual Jobligation Day into a (J)Open Crowd Event.
Those interested in owning their own piece of brewery should not hesitate too long. The crowdfunding runs until the end of May. All information about the campaign can be found on the NxChange platform and in the accompanying pitch deck.
They create craft beers, like this one for the opening of a supermarket in their vicinity.
Website: Jopen Bier
