White Claw SC Plant Nears Completion, Hiring Accelerates

Mark Anthony Brewing’s new $400 million facility is nearing completion in Columbia, South Carolina, and the company plans to hire for hundreds of open positions. The 4th largest brewer in the US, and the producer of both White Claw Hard Seltzer and Mike’s Hard Lemonade, will be completing its new state-of-the-art brewing and packaging plant almost exactly one year after its Glendale, Arizona location opened.

According to the company, their flagship facility in South Carolina will be “the largest, most advanced brewery built in the United States within the last 25 years” at over a million square feet in size. 

Mark Anthony Brewing has teamed up with readySC, a division of the South Carolina Technical College System, to recruit for and fill open positions. “The facility will employ a team of over 300 people with a shared passion for quality and doing what’s right,” the company explained.

“Our collaborative culture is unapologetically fast paced, entrepreneurial, and results driven. We act like owners and embody a sense of urgency and pride in everything we do, while ensuring we always overdeliver on quality…Come join us on this once-in-a-lifetime journey as we start up a flagship facility!”

The plant, which is located in Richland County’s Pineview Industrial Park, will be hosting five virtual career webinars on Friday afternoons throughout June and early July. Open positions include Brewery Operator, Facility Coordinator, Lead Brewer and more. 

The success of Mike’s Hard Lemonade and White Claw Hard Seltzer has launched Mark Anthony Brands into ready-to-drink (RTD) infamy. The company has risen through the ranks to become a fierce competitor in the industry.

Mike’s Hard Lemonade

Mike’s Hard Lemonade launched in 1996 and was one of the most popular early RTD beverages.

The brand is still a consumer favorite, with more than a dozen flavors on the market, and even recently experienced a sharp incline in sales due to increased demand for ready-to-drink beverages. Last year Mike’s Hard Lemonade sales were up over one hundred percent.

The brand also recently launched Mike’s Hard Lemonade Seltzer in four flavors. The seltzer contains 100 calories, 1 gram of carbs, 1 gram of sugar and an ABV of 5% per 12 ounce can. Mike’s Harder, is another recent addition to the product line up. The drink features an enhanced ABV of 8%. 

White Claw

Mark Anthony Brands launched White Claw Hard Seltzer in 2016.

The beverage quickly became a viral internet sensation with videos and memes featuring humorous catchphrases like, “Ain’t no laws when you’re drinking Claws.” Even though it wasn’t the first hard seltzer product on the market, White Claw morphed into the poster child for the seltzer lifestyle and the brand that defined the category.

White Claw consistently leads the industry in sales, and currently controls more than 58% of the US hard seltzer market. Boston Beer’s Truly, the second ranking hard seltzer, controls only about 20%. 

The ever-expanding brand currently offers 11 flavors of their original hard seltzer, a recently released line of White Claw Hard Seltzer Iced Tea, and White Claw Surge, an imperial hard seltzer featuring an ABV of 8%. Mark Anthony Brands is also home to MXD Cocktail Co., a line of pre-mixed canned cocktails, and Cayman Jack bottled cocktails. 

Hard Seltzer Demand Hasn’t Found Ceiling

The alcohol industry has been struggling to produce enough hard seltzer to keep up with consumer demand. The RTD category has grown consistently over the last several years but sales of the beverages increased dramatically last year as quarantine regulations shuttered bars and on-premise locations, resulting in consumers drinking at home more than ever before.

The hard seltzer market alone neared $4 billion last year and is projected to reach $11 billion by 2027. White Claw knows firsthand how important it is to produce enough inventory. For a few short weeks in late 2019 the brand experienced a nationwide shortage as a result of skyrocketing demand. Chaos ensued amongst loyal consumers. 

Other Manufacturers Ramp Up Production Capabilities

Mark Anthony Brewing isn’t the only big company focused on bolstering hard seltzer production. Anheuser-Busch, makers of Bud Light Seltzer, BON V!V, Natty Light Seltzer, and Michelob Ultra Seltzer, recently announced plans to invest $1 billion dollars into US manufacturing facilities to boost hard seltzer production capabilities.

Molson Coors, home of Coors Seltzer, Vizzy and Proof Point, also recently dedicated millions of dollars to upgrading equipment in the hopes of increasing hard seltzer output by 400%. 

Mark Anthony Needs You

The family-owned business is determined to hire people who share in their vision for the future of the beverage industry.

“We know that people drive the growth of our organizational success,” the company insists. “At Mark Anthony Brewing, our values reflect our core beliefs, company culture and essential behaviors that differentiates our unique brand.”

A full list of available positions as well as links to the webinars and job applications can be found on readySC’s website.