Inaugural Stone Roasting coffee products.
Longtime California craft beer brewer Stone Brewing is readying a nationwide coffee product launch under the name Stone Roasting.
The rollout involves a deal with third-party coffee co-packer and distributor NuZee Inc. It comes approximately four months after NuZee signed a manufacturing partnership agreement with Southern California-based wholesale and private-label roasting company Apffels Fine Coffees.
According to NuZee, Stone’s debut coffee lineup will include NuZee’s single-serve pourover “Dripkits,” single-serve brew bags, 12-ounce whole bean coffee bags and capsules.
The products will be inspired by three beers in Stone’s existing lineup: the Arrogant Bastard Ale; Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager; and Xocoveza. The Buenaveza coffee offering will include coffee sourced from Mexico, while the Xocoveza will draw inspiration from Mexican-style hot chocolate.
A countdown clock on the StoneRoasting.com website says the company will begin accepting pre-orders for coffee products on July 31. NuZee says a five-year global licensing agreement with the brewing company will involve grocery distribution, convenience store and hospitality channels and direct-to-consumer sales. The financial terms of the agreement were not made public.
NuZee previously collaborated with Stone for limited-run of coffee products as part of seasonal beer releases. Both companies maintain production facilities in San Diego County.
“We are delighted to build upon the success of our past collaborations and expand our partnership with our San Diego neighbors at Stone,” NuZee CEO Masa Higashida said in a company announcement. “Our team will capitalize on the remarkable brand recognition and expanding influence of the Stone brand, synergizing it with our exceptional coffees and coffee-related offerings.”
Japanese beer maker Sapporo acquired Stone Brewing for $165 million last June.
Does your coffee business have news to share? Let DCN’s editors know here.
Comment