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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
DECEMBER 23, 2020

CONTACTS:
SCOTT SCHAIER, NH BEER DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION
603-502-6650
SCOTT.SCHAIER@BEERBIZNH.COM

SAMANTHA MACDONALD, NEW HAMPSHIRE LODGING & RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION
603-520-9902
SMACDONALD@NHLRA.COM

Concord, NH– The Beer Distributors Association of New Hampshire (BDNH), in partnership with Anheuser Busch, Molson Coors, and the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA), is donating $5,000 in local grocery gift cards to the New Hampshire Hospitality Employee Relief Fund (NHHERF). The Fund, which was launched in March 2020, offers grants to hospitality industry employees who have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Restaurants are not only our partners, but also part of the fabric of our community, and their staff are our friends and neighbors,” said Chris Brown, president and chief executive officer of New Hampshire Distributors (NHD) which is based in Concord. “Our hearts go out to the unemployed hospitality workers and their families who are struggling this holiday season. We wanted to help in some small way, so we rallied our member companies from across the state and joined forces with a few of our key partners to support workers in need before Christmas.”

The $50 and $100 gift cards will be distributed through the New Hampshire Hospitality Employee Relief Fund. The Fund, which is managed by the New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association’s Education Foundation (NHLRAEF), awards grants to individuals who currently have or held a position in the beverage, food service, or the hospitality industry and have seen a reduction of hours, been laid off, or are unable to work due to COVID-19.

“The pandemic has been devastating to hospitality industry employees. Thousands have lost their jobs almost overnight. For those that have been able to go back to work, many face limited hours and significantly less business,” said Mike Somers, president and chief executive officer of the NHLRA. ‘With the assistance of programs and industry partners like BDNH, we have been able to support families in need. Grocery store gift cards will help put food on the table during a very hard time for many in our industry.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, since February 2020, the restaurant industry alone has lost an estimated 2.3 million jobs. With these staggering numbers, members of the beer industry have worked with public and private partners to offer relief and recovery support around the country as the hospitality sector is one of the hardest hit by the pandemic. Here in New Hampshire, the NHHERF has been very fortunate to receive donations from industry partners, community resources, and individuals which has allowed for the distribution of more than $164,000 in aid going directly to workers in need.

“While there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, we still have a long way to go before we’re out of it and those in our industry need to take care of each other any way we can,” said Suzanne Kasprzak, president and chief executive officer of Bayside Distributing in Brentwood.

To learn more visit https://www.nhlra.com/

About the Beer Distributors of New Hampshire Association

BDNH is a non-profit, professional trade association tasked with responsibly developing New Hampshire’s beer industry, insuring a safe orderly marketplace and delivering maximum variety and value for consumers and licensed business partners. For nearly 100 years, BDNH has been represented the general business interests of independent and family-owned licensed beer and beverage wholesalers. NH beer distributors directly employ thousands of people, contribute millions of dollars in state, local and federal taxes and regularly give back to the communities where they work and raise their families.

About the New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association

The NHLRA is the only advocate for the restaurant and lodging industry in New Hampshire. We work to advance pro-business policy and defend small business owners against crippling regulations. Since 1919, the NHLRA has acted as an indispensable resource for avoiding regulatory pitfalls. We are striving to improve the hospitality industry, whether it’s bringing new business to your door or supporting the next generation of industry leaders.

About NBWA

The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents America’s 3,000 independent beer distributors with operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Licensed at the federal and state levels, beer distributors get bottles, cans, cases and kegs from a brewer or importer to stores, restaurants and other licensed retail accounts through a transparent and accountable regulatory system. Distributors build brands of all sizes — from familiar domestic beers to new startup labels and imports from around the world – and generate enormous consumer choice while supporting more than 140,000 quality jobs in their home communities. Beer distributors work locally to keep communities safe by sponsoring programs to promote responsible consumption, combat drunk driving and work to eliminate underage drinking.

About Anheuser-Busch

For more than 165 years, Anheuser-Busch has carried on a legacy of brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers for generations. Today, we own and operate 23 breweries, 14 distributorships and 23 agricultural and packaging facilities, and have more than 18,000 colleagues across the United States. We are home to several of America’s most recognizable beer brands, including Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob ULTRA and Stella Artois, as well as a number of regional brands that provide beer drinkers with a choice of the best-tasting craft beers in the industry. From responsible drinking programs and emergency drinking water donations to industry-leading sustainability efforts, we are guided by our unwavering commitment to supporting the communities we call home. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com or follow Anheuser-Busch on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About Molson Coors Beverage Company

For over two centuries Molson Coors has been brewing beverages that unite people for all of life’s moments. From Coors Light, Miller Lite, Molson Canadian, Carling, and Staropramen to Coors Banquet, Blue Moon Belgian White, Blue Moon LightSky, Vizzy, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, Creemore Springs and more, Molson Coors produces some of the most beloved and iconic beer brands ever made. While the company’s history is rooted in beer, Molson Coors offers a modern portfolio that expands beyond the beer aisle as well. The company’s commitment to raising industry standards and leaving a positive imprint on our employees, consumers, communities and the environment is reflected in Our Imprint and our 2025 sustainability targets. To learn more about Molson Coors Beverage Company, visit molsoncoors.com, MolsonCoorsOurImprint.com or on Twitter through @MolsonCoors.