Deschutes Brewery, Central Oregon’s original micro-brewery that is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, announced that the company hired Mark Hegedus, a former division sales manager for energy drink manufacturer Red Bull, to oversee the Bend-based brewery’s plans to expand its share of the micro-brew market.
Heges, who in the past also worked for Coors Brewing Company, Proctor & Gamble and SevenUp USA, will be in charge of what appears to be a cautious expansion approach by the company. Deschutes Brewery Founder and President Gary Fish recently said he wants to continue expanding into new locations across Oregon while reviewing additional growth opportunities throughout the United States, and even abroad.
Deschutes Brewery recently pushed to grab additional market share when it hired Bend-based tbd advertising, and built a vehicle resembling a keg that it can drive up to events, flip open the side and begin serving beer from 18 taps. The company spent six weeks driving around the Pacific Northwest in its mobile pub, which it nicknamed “Woody.”
Deschutes Brewery also recently opened a new pub in the “El Dorado” section of northwest Portland, home of the Pearl District and thousands of young urban professionals. The pub is a block-or-so away from the Powell’s Books headquarters on West Burnside Avenue.
Deschutes now sells its beer in 13 states after adding Texas to its distribution list earlier this summer. Last year the National Beer Wholesalers Association ranked the company seventh in the U.S. in sales volume for craft micro-breweries and 16th among all brewers, including the big boys like Miller Brewing Company and Anheuser-Busch.
So, it appears Heges is joining Deschutes Brewery at an exciting time in the company’s history.
“We’re very excited to have Mark join our growing team,” Fish said in a press release. “He brings a tremendous amount of experience in managing beverage sales teams and we’re looking forward to having him at the brewery.”
Deschutes Brewery, which served its first beer with 12 workers on its roster, now employs 300-or-so people.
