News

By TV6 News Team

NEGAUNEE, Mich. (WLUC) – Employees at Upper Peninsula-based Pike Distributors, Inc. celebrated 85 years in business this year – a true testament to Michigan’s beer and wine distributors’ deep roots in their communities.

“My brother Jack and I are proud to be third-generation owners after growing up in the business, working side by side with our father, Joe Ketvirtis,” said Sarah Ketvirtis, owner of Pike Distributors, Inc. “Our grandfather, Stan, was running beer out of a pick-up truck back in 1937 when Pike first got started. As a family business, we have a hands-on, open-door approach that emphasizes employee development and teamwork.”

Michigan’s independent, family-owned beer distributors are leaders in charitable giving in their communities and actively partner with local organizations. Pike Distributors is no exception, with the company’s long-term involvement and sponsorship of numerous groups and local events throughout the Upper Peninsula.

“The communities we live and work in are so important to us,” Ketvirtis said. “We wouldn’t be here without them. Our team goes above and beyond to help ensure local groups have successful events and can carry out their missions. Whether we are helping with set up, making monetary donations, or putting in volunteer hours, we do as much as we can to support the local organizations, projects, and events that improve the places we live.”

As a local, family-owned business, Pike Distributors is uniquely positioned to respond to the needs of its local communities they serve and stay actively involved in the places they live, work, and service. The company’s community service runs deep, with decades-long involvement in many local non-profits and events that benefit the outdoors, health and wellness, sports, music, culture, and more. “Many of the organizations we support are the same ones our grandfather, Stan, began supporting years ago,” said Jack Ketvirtis, owner of Pike Distributors, Inc. “We are proud to carry on those time-honored traditions, and we wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. Cheers to a great 2023!”

According to a press release, Pike employs about 90 people and services seven counties in the Upper Peninsula, with three distribution centers in Newberry, Gladstone, and Marquette, Michigan. Additionally, they have 30 semis running throughout the country.

Copyright 2022 WLUC. All rights reserved.

By ABC 10 UP

By WLUC-TV6

ESCANABA – This morning the first shipment of Upper Hand Brewery beer was picked up by Pike Distributors. Forty-eight half barrels and 16 quarter barrels were loaded onto the truck.

The companies hope this shipment will be enough to supply the local businesses for the week.  Upper Peninsula Ale, or UPA, and Escanaba Black Beer will be on tap at Delta County restaurants and bars starting Thursday. Pike’s Distributors said this is a very exciting opportunity to be a part of.

“To have a local brewery with Bell’s backing, their knowledge, their science, their history on making wonderful craft beers. I think it’s going to be an excellent opportunity for people to come shop locally in Escanaba.”

The public is invited to the release party and pub crawl on Thursday, starting at the Stonehouse at 6:00.

The locations that will carry these beers include: Breezy Point, Crispigna’s, The Elks, Ernie’s, Hereford and Hops, Ludington Grill, Mug Shots, Stonehouse and Wally’s.

By The Mining Journal

MARQUETTE – Pike Distributors, Marquette County’s only locally owned beer and wine wholesaler, was started in 1937 by Mervin J. Pike. In 1950, Stan Ketvirtis was hired and helped run the company when Mervin passed away in 1953. Current president, Joe Ketvirtis, began employment in 1974 with his son, Jack, current vice president, starting in 1999. “We all went to Northern Michigan University,” said Jack Ketvirtis of himself, his father and grandfather. “I worked in the warehouse just like my grandfather did, crushing cans and loading orders.”

To the right, Ore Dock Brewery in Marquette uses Pike Distributing for their kegs. Ketvirtis, left, sits with Ore Dock Brewery co-founder Andrea Pernsteiner, center, and head brewer Nick VanCourt. Jack got involved in the family business in order to continue the tradition of providing good-paying jobs in his community. Pike currently employs 40 full-time staff members throughout the Upper Peninsula.

Community involvement is also important to Pike Distributors. “Pike has always been highly involved in the communities we serve,” notes Ketvirtis. “We are proud of our involvement and sponsorships of many organizations and events throughout the U.P.”

Some of their involvement includes Bay Cliff Health Camp, Marquette Area Blues Fest, Ore to Shore Mountain Bike Epic, Superior Bike Fest, Harbor Fest, Marquette Oldtimers Hockey Tournament and the U.P. State Fair to name a few. Pike is also a partner of the Lake Superior Community Partnership.

Pike currently has three warehouses in Newberry, Gladstone and Marquette and serves seven counties in the U.P. While many distributors work out of a single warehouse, Pike decided it was important to have three locations to better serve their customer base. They currently serve over 400 grocery stores, party stores, gas stations, bars and restaurants.

“We wanted to keep the hometown touch by having three warehouses in the U.P.,” said Ketvirtis. “Our money stays here in the community instead of going down state.” Microbrews have become a big seller as customers seek out the unique local flavors that national brands can’t provide. “Our sales staff is very knowledgeable and has years of experience,” said Ketvirtis. “Our service sets us apart from other companies because we are local.”

When it came time for the Ore Dock Brewing Co. to choose a distributor for their beer, Pike was an easy decision. “There are a lot of distributors in Michigan as a whole,” said Ore Dock co-founder Andrea Pernsteiner. “But what we really liked about Pike was that they had a really good finger on the pulse of the local party stores and restaurants and they know a lot of the folks around here.”

“We love working with Pike. The fact that they’re right down the road is so convenient as well as it makes us feel confident that if there is anything we would ever need, they will be there,” Pernsteiner added.

Presently, Pike distributes for two local breweries, the Keweenaw Brewing Co. based in Houghton and the Ore Dock Brewing Co. here in Marquette. Other Michigan beers include New Holland and Atwater. National beer brands include Labatt, Magic Hat, New Belgium and Pabst. Pike also has a wide variety of imports including Bass, Guinness and Stella Artois. Wine brands consist of Alamos, Apothic Red, Barefoot, Boone’s Farm, Ecco Domani, Edna Valley, Louis M. Martini, Redwood Creek, Red Rock Winery, Willam Hill and Wild Vines. A few of their non-alcoholic brands are Monster, Faygo and 1919 Root Beer.

By Great Lakes Radio News / The Sunny Morning Show

MARQUETTE, MI – The success for Marquette, Michigan’s Ore Dock Brewing Company is continuing with the launch of  expanded distribution of their beers to the surrounding community.

Ore Dock Brewmaster Nick VanCourt and Pike Distributing Sales Manager Tom Babcock stopped by The SUNNY Morning Show with Walt & Mike today to formally announce the expansion.

VanCourt explained that there will be a “Tap Takeover” Saturday at the Northland Pub at the Landmark Inn in Marquette where they will feature the first off-site pours of the Ore Dock’s brews.

So far, the beers have only been available at the Ore Dock Brewing Company’s Tap Room on Spring Street in Marquette.

Babcock explained that Pike Distributing and The Ore Dock Brewery had been in conversations for several months to expand the brewery’s reach, and with all of the activities going on this weekend in Marquette, it was the perfect time to do it.

VanCourt also explained that the Ore Dock’s beers will also be out and on tap at several other Marquette establishments this weekend for people to enjoy.

He also mentioned that bottling of the beer for general sale to the public is not too far away, either.

LISTEN  – Ore Dock Brewing Company Brewmaster Nick VanCourt and Pike Distributing’s Tom Babcock  on the expanded beer distribution plans.

VISIT – The Ore Dock Brewing Company’s website.

By Chris Laine – The Oakland Press

New Belgium Brewing Company of Fort Collins, Colo. will begin distribution in Michigan starting August 27.

The Colorado-based brewery, most famous for its ‘Fat Tire Amber Ale,’ has inked deals with 22 Michigan distributors to carry its beer starting August 27. The recent deal will bring New Belgium’s distribution footprint to 29 states and the District of Columbia.

Select beers from Fort Collins-based brewery will be available in Michigan beginning August 27. New Belgium will initially roll out 22-ounce bottles of Fat Tire, Ranger IPA, Trippel, Shift and Red Hoptober, as well as Lips of Faith offerings Super IPA (with Alpine Brewing) and Biere de Mars; where draft beer will follow distribution in October.

To coincide with entering the Great Lakes State, New Belgium Brewing and Michigan-based Brewery Vivant are launching the first of two collaborative beers. “Escoffier”is being brewed in Grand Rapids and will be distributed through Brewery Vivant’s network. The beer is named after the French master chef of the same namet’s deep amber in color and uses one of Brewery Vivant’s house Belgian yeast strains, as well as wild yeast from New Belgium called Brettanomyces Bruxellensis.
“Michigan has already been a great partner with a broad network of breweries, distributors and beer lovers,” said Bryan Simpson, New Belgium’s spokesman. “Working with Brewery Vivant has been a great way to meet and work with local brewers while making something new and unique for both breweries.”

A release party is scheduled at Brewery Vivant on August 27, followed by a Michigan release of draft and signature 16-ounce cans. A second beer will be brewed in Fort Collins and released through New Belgium Brewing’s national network. The second beer will be part of the Lips of Faith series, available in 22-ounce bombers and draft in November.

New Belgium’s Michigan wholesaler network includes: Anderson Distributing Co, Atlas Distributing, Bud Distributing, Earl Smith Distributing, Fabiano Brothers, Floral City Beverage, Four Seasons Beer Distributors, Great Lakes Distributing Co., Griffin Beverage, H. Cox & Sons, Hubert Distributing, Huron Distributing, Ludington Beverage, Main Beverage, Marchetti Distributing, Mervenne Beverage, O & W, Peterlin Distributing, Peteprin Distributing, Pike Distributing, Tyler Sales Co and Westside Distributing Co..

In addition to producing craft beers, New Belgium engages in programs such as employee ownership, open book management and environmental stewardship.

For more information on New Belgium Brewing, visit their website at www.newbelgium.com.

For Immediate Release, Contact: Jack Ketvirtis

NEWBERRY – Pike Distributors, a family owned beverage distributor, today announced that it is on track to relocate its headquarters to Marquette while still preserving operations and staff at its longtime Newberry facility.

“Pike Distributors has very deep roots in the Upper Peninsula and we are committed to continuing our long partnership with all the communities we serve,” said Pike Distributors President Joe Ketvirtis, the second generation of the family to own and operate the beer, wine and beverage distributor.

“We are excited about our new headquarters in Marquette, and remain firmly committed to our loyal employees and community partners in Newberry, which was Pike’s home for more than seven decades,” Ketvirtis said. “The Newberry facility will continue to be a fully operational warehouse and an important facility for our operations. Pike is proud to create good-paying local jobs, invest in Michigan and help build a stronger future for our economy here across the Upper Peninsula.”

Pike expects to fully open its new headquarters in Marquette during the first week of May. The 35,000-plus-square-foot facility is located at 353 U.S. 41 East, and is an upgrade and expansion of an existing warehouse. Meanwhile, Pike’s 17,454-square-foot warehouse in Newberry will continue operations and serve its 66 retail accounts. Altogether, Pike employs more than 40 full-time employees at its three locations: Marquette, Newberry and Gladstone, with 13 employees at the new Marquette facility and 9 employees at Newberry, including three semi-divers. Pike’s employees enjoy good wages and benefits, including health care, profit sharing, 401 (k) and other benefits.

Pike is also active in the local community and actively participates in charitable, humanitarian and community events. In 2010, Pike spent $16,000 on responsibility advertising and programming, as well as community giving and sponsorships in Newberry, including popular local programs such as Whitetails, the Turkey Federation, the Newberry Buck Pool and Predators Hunts.

Pike distributes beer, wine and other beverages through a system of regulations that emphasize accountability, consumer safety and choice. Pike serves nearly 400 retailers and customers in Marquette, Luce, Alger, Schoolcraft, Chippewa, Mackinac and Delta counties.

First established in 1937 by Mervin Pike, the business first began distributing Soo Brew, made in Sault Ste. Marie just 60 miles from Newberry. The company then began distributing Schmidt’s and Phieffer’s beer, using one small truck. Today, Pike’s distributes Anheuser-Busch, Miller/Coors, Labatt and Pabst brands, craft beers such as Bell’s Beer and Keweenaw Brewing Co., wines from Gallo and other products, with a fleet of trucks and vans and a team of skilled, highly trained professionals.