Title: Ontario's micro-brewing industry: an exploratory study

Authors: Agostino Menna; Holly Catalfamo

Addresses: School of Business and Management, Niagara College Canada, 135 Taylor Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, L0S 1J0, Canada ' School of Business and Management, Niagara College Canada, 135 Taylor Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, L0S 1J0, Canada

Abstract: This study researched Ontario's micro-brewing industry and used the firm's strategy obtained from policies, plans, and priorities to develop an industry framework to measure the industry's contribution to Ontario's standard of living and, ultimately, to Ontario's economic well-being. Nine microbreweries were surveyed and 14 websites were analysed based on four research objectives: 1) identify industry success factors; 2) validate a portion of Menna's model; 3) apply lessons of this study to the creation of successful models in new venture creation; 4) instil a uniquely micro-brewing model for affecting growth and benefits in the province of Ontario. Results show that Ontario's microbreweries thrive in niche markets with unique strategies and distinctive advantages that contribute to Ontario's economy. This is a first step in understanding key factors that may help Ontario transition to a community-based, creative-oriented enterprise system of wealth creation.

Keywords: emerging industries; entrepreneurship policy; regional development; economic growth; Ontario; Canada; microbrewing; microbreweries; brewing industry; success factors; Menna's model; new venture creation; modelling; niche markets.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2014.062909

International Journal of Economics and Business Research, 2014 Vol.7 No.4, pp.454 - 475

Received: 21 Mar 2013
Accepted: 20 May 2013
Published online: 24 Jul 2014 *

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