(Photo above courtesy of Riff Cold Brewed Coffee)
Craft Beverage Veteran Tapped to Drive Launch Efforts Throughout Pacific Northwest
Riff Cold Brewed Coffee, a new craft beverage company founded by veterans from Crux Fermentation Project, Stumptown Coffee and LinkedIn, announced that it has hired Andy Chapman as Director of Sales to help expand its presence throughout the Pacific Northwest. Chapman is a seasoned sales executive in the craft beverage industry with 13-years experience introducing premium beverage brands to some of the most influential and respected grocery chains, bars, restaurants and public venues in Oregon.
Before joining Riff, Andy held sales management positions at Columbia Distributing, the Pacific Northwest’s largest craft beer distributor, and Young’s Market, a family-owned beverage distributor of wines, spirits and select craft beverages spanning ten markets in the western United States. In his most recent role, Andy oversaw a 12-person team that was responsible for bringing some of the region’s premier craft beer brands such as Deschutes, Hopworks, Backwoods and Crux into some of Portland’s most popular craft beer destinations, including Urban Farmer and River Pig, while expanding presence in specialty grocery chains such as New Seasons, Market of Choice and Zupan’s.
“We’re thrilled to bring Andy on to build our sales team and to launch Riff to the market,” says Steve Barham, Riff Co-Founder. “First and foremost, we were searching for a leader that exemplifies the core values that Riff was founded on— creating lasting relationships, a collaborative spirit that comes from building something great, being a positive force in the community, embracing innovation, and having fun with the people around you.” Barham continued, “We’re proud to have Andy join the team and look forward to having him continue his legacy of winning partnerships and trusted relationships within Oregon’s craft beverage industry.”
“The cold brew coffee category is one of the most exciting things happening in the beverage industry today,” said Chapman, “With ready-to-drink coffee expected to reach $4.5 billion in annual sales by 2022, and millennial tastes shifting toward a cold brewed, all-natural coffee experience, I’m reminded of how the craft-beer category was poised for explosive growth a decade ago. I could not be more excited to join a team of exceptional industry minds that have developed a brand that embodies creativity, passion, experience and innovation.”
RIFF COLD BREWED COFFEE
Riff is Paul Evers, co-founder of Crux Fermentation Project; Nate Armbrust, former head of product development and cold brew operations at Stumptown; Steve Barham, former senior director at LinkedIn; and Bobby Evers and Kevin Smyth, both with deep experience in craft beer branding and operations. And Riff is so much more— an enthusiastic and diverse tribe of investors, employees, partners, and you.
When we riff on an idea, we start with a question: What if? What if we brewed coffee cold, for a sweeter, smoother flavor? What if we poured it on tap? Into a glass, not a mug? What if we met for coffee in the evening? With friends, and maybe—gasp—without wifi? What if it weren’t sacrilegious to drink our coffee decaffeinated, spiced, fruited, or even barrel fermented with wild yeast? Now we’re talking. Let’s Riff! For more information visit riffcoldbrewed.com or call 458-206-0825.
