(Photos courtesy of EDCO)
According to Beverage Industry, demand for canned cocktails grew by 20% last year. Join us this Thursday for Central Oregon PubTalk at Open Space Event Studios, for an evening celebrating the unique consumer products being made in Central Oregon. Try samples of Manuka Mana’s potent superfood blends, refreshing canned cocktail recipes from Forth Distilled Goods and mocktails from Altitude Beverages. On tap this month is Crux Fermentation Project and 10 Barrel Brewing with delicious bites from ShimShon Israeli Street Food.
Agenda:
Community Update: Cultivate Bend
Barb Myers, Owner, Fixa Foods; Member, Cultivate Bend
Paul Evers, NAI Cascade Broker; Founding Board Member, Cultivate Bend
Company Update: Broken Top Brands
Affton Coffelt, Founder and CEO
Company Pitch: Forth Distilled Goods
Ben Brewer, Founder
Company Pitch: Manuka Mana
Courtney Rebel, Co-founder
Keynote Panel:
Craft Trends — Responding to Shifts in Consumer Preferences While Preserving Brand Identity
Jessie Higgins, Vice President & Team Lead, Specialty Sales, Toluna
Ashley Picerno, MBA, Marketing and Branding Manager, Crux Fermentation Project
Brian Hughes, Director of Marketing, 10 Barrel Brewing
Company Update:
Forth Distilled Goods
In April 2020, Ben Brewer, a native of Bend, started Forth Distilled Goods, a licensed distillery focused on making ready-to-drink spirit-based canned cocktails. With an engineering and chemistry background, Ben applies a product-engineering mindset to the development of new recipes. Forth offers a full line of award-winning recipes that feature premium, distinct spirits and all-natural ingredients, designed for refreshing drinkability. Since 2021, Forth has been selling products in Oregon and is now also distributed in Idaho, California and Washington through major retailers including Albertsons, Whole Foods, Costco, Trader Joe’s, and more. In addition to its own products, the company also uses its production facility and equipment to provide contract manufacturing for clients.
Company Pitch:
Manuka Mana
Manuka Mana specializes in crafting premium real food supplements to elevate daily rituals. The company blends wild-harvested mushrooms, triple-extracted for potency, with pure New Zealand manuka honey to create a powerful synergy. Their diverse range of meticulously formulated tinctures, honey blends and honey tonics are tailored to address a spectrum of health needs, including brain health, immunity, digestion, and energy.
Courtney and Josiah Rebel launched the company in 2021. Prior to founding Manuka Mana, Courtney served as a director and consultant for private country clubs, spearheading transformative renovations of fitness centers, spas and aquatic facilities nationwide. However, a pivotal moment occurred in 2016 when Josiah experienced a mini-stroke, prompting Courtney to embark on a new mission: healing his brain and sharing the benefits of mushroom supplements with the world. This journey led to the inception of Manuka Mana, where Courtney and Josiah’s passion for mushrooms and their amazing health benefits have flourished.
Thursday, March 21
Open Space Event Studios
4:30pm Networking | 5:30pm Program
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