Big Grove Brewery opens coffee shop and expands into other cities
Big Grove Brewery is expanding its footprint across the Midwest, with a taproom opening in Omaha, Nebraska, next month and an eventual sixth location in Kansas City.
Why it matters: The brewery's growth bucks the national trend of a shrinking craft beer industry.
State of play: In June, Big Grove is opening its first out-of-state taproom in Omaha. It also opened its surprising newest venture — Big Grove Coffee Co. — in April.
The move to expand its offerings stems from changing consumer tastes, says Bryan Farrell, marketing director for Big Grove.
"It's really hard to get a good fix on Gen Z as they become of legal drinking age," Farrell says. "It does seem like they're drinking less than the generations before."
Flashback: Big Grove opened in Solon in 2013 and opened its Iowa City taproom in 2017. Since then, it's opened taprooms in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, as well as a second production facility in Iowa City.
Zoom in: Several things have helped the brewery continue to expand, including its sheer production size, Farrell says.
There is a tipping point where breweries either need to get large enough to make the labor and materials costs worth it, or stay small and go into local bottle shops.
Big Grove distributes in six states, adding Minnesota to its roster last month. The company works with Casey's, Hy-Vee and Fareway to get on shelves.
Between the lines: That's been helpful, especially as foot traffic hasn't fully returned to taprooms since the pandemic, says Noreen Otto, president of the Iowa Brewers Guild.
What's next: Expect a continued shift into other beverages, including nonalcoholic beer, canned cocktails and drinks with health benefits.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
35 minutes ago
- Forbes
The Science Of De-Extinction Is Providing Hope For Nature's Future
Younger audiences are becoming increasingly tired with the rhetoric on the horrors of climate change, with research showing that Gen-Z feel that their climate-related concerns are often dismissed by older generations. Enter: Colossal Biosciences, a Texas-based biotech and genetic engineering company working tirelessly to de-extinct several animals and bring hope to the future of nature. Co-founded by entrepreneur Ben Lamm and Harvard geneticist George Church, Colossal Biosciences is tapping into the cultural zeitgeist by not only making bold scientific promises, but by embracing a storytelling approach that resonates with Gen Z. High school students write in asking how they can get involved; college students express inspiration to pursue science because of Colossal Biosciences' work. Their excitement is less about nostalgia and more about agency—about changing the narrative of inevitable loss. 'If history teaches us anything, it's that we shouldn't argue with youth,' Colossal Biosciences CEO Lamm said. 'Progress often begins with what youth culture believes in,' Citing historical youth-led movements, Lamm believes the younger generation is rallying around biotech and conservation innovation. Not only does the company have the backing of Gen-Z, but it has also garnered support from Hollywood's greatest. Peter Jackson, Tom Brady, Tiger Woods, Sophie Turner and George R.R. Martin have all endorsed or invested in Colossal Biosciences. The company is focused on creating a de-extinction toolkit that can act as a fail-safe if the government, conservationists, environmentalists and citizens fail to do what is necessary to protect animal species. By 2050, nearly half of all animal species could be threatened with extinction, which could pose significant impact on the global economy. Colossal Biosciences' mission is to stop or even reverse extinction and, to date, they have announced ambitious projects related to the woolly mammoth, thylacine, dodo and dire wolf. The species selection is driven by an elaborate plan to assist conservationists, environmentalists, governments and organizations all over the world to biobank genetic materials, create resilience in faltering species lines and, if absolutely necessary, recover full species from extinction. 'It goes back to the apathy point in your research that is making everyone feel so hopeless. We need to all be advocating for genetic rescue science to be used and for lots of advancements to be made in order to save species. But, do you know how hard it is to get people to care about progress or the need for progress in genetic science?' Lamm noted. 'Almost impossible. Do you know how easy it is to get people talking about bringing back their favorite ancient pachyderm? Substantially easier,' Lamm explained that he doesn't believe the company's mission can succeed without public support and an interest in and understanding of the new technologies his company is inventing. In early 2025, the company made a breakthrough with the colossal woolly mouse, sharing parts of the woolly mammoth's DNA and proving the scientists' ability to recreate complex genetic combinations that took nature millions of years to create. 'We need to get people excited about saving the planet, so that we have a shot at being able to actually save it. Part of the reason we are working to bring back the woolly mammoth is so that we could get the public to pay attention to genetic science; it's one part: holy s—t how amazing. And one part: you're doing what now?' Lamm explained. 'That combination has allowed us to talk to a lot of people about what we are working on, why it's important for conservation and how they can get involved,' 'It is going to be their planet to care for,' he added. 'We see it as our job to make sure there is something left for them to take care of.'
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Australia is 'safe and reliable' critical minerals alternative, minister says
PARIS (Reuters) -Australia offers a secure alternative supply for critical minerals vital to industry, its trade minister Don Farrell said on Thursday, in the face of rising concerns about Beijing's dominance of the sector. China's decision in April to suspend exports of a wide range of rare earths and related magnets crucial to sectors ranging from automakers to aerospace and defence was widely seen as Beijing using that dominance for leverage in its trade war with the Trump administration. While China is a top global producer of 30 of the 50 minerals considered critical by the U.S. Geological Survey, Australia has some of the largest critical minerals deposits. "We think we can be a safe and reliable supplier into the supply chain for critical minerals around the world," Farrell told Reuters in an interview. But Australia does not want to just "dig and ship" the minerals and aims to process them as well, although that would require capital from outside such as the European Union, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and India, he said. The EU and Australia signed a partnership agreement last year to develop critical materials along the supply chain ranging from extraction to refining and processing leftover waste. Farrell said critical minerals could end up in a free trade agreement with the EU that Australia and the bloc are trying to revive after talks broke down in 2023, mainly over agriculture. Australia has sent top trade officials to Brussels this week to nail down the next steps forward as both sides seek access to alternative markets as the Trump administration aggressively builds tariff barriers to its trade partners. "I think there is now impetus on both sides to look at another crack at the agreement," Farrell said in Paris, where he met EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic on the sidelines of a meeting at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Farrell also met U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer at the OECD and told him Australia wanted the Trump administration to remove its 10% baseline tariffs and 50% tariffs on aluminium and steel. The United States, which has had a free trade agreement with Australia for two decades, ran a $17.9 billion trade surplus with the country last year, according to Greer's office. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
The Retirement Funds Boomers Rely on Most — and Why Rising Generations Will Need a New Strategy
Whether retirement is like a sunrise on a distant horizon or you can already feel its golden rays warming your golden years, one thing is clear: Your money needs to be ready. While there are universal pillars of smart saving, such as keeping savings in a high-yield savings account, investing consistently and maintaining an emergency fund, each generation approaches retirement saving a little differently. For You: Check Out: When GOBankingRates teamed up with New York Life to understand how people are feeling about their finances today, one insight stood out. In a survey of more than 1,000 Americans ages 18 and older, only 20.81% of respondents age 65 and older said they rely on a 401(k) for income. In contrast, 43.93% said they receive income from an employer pension. If you're thinking that Gen Z or Millennials might not have the same access to pensions, you're right. The way people save for retirement is changing — and future retirees will need a more self-directed strategy. In the survey, respondents of all age groups were asked about their sources of household income. Unsurprisingly, older respondents — those in the 65-and-older group — reported high reliance on Social Security (90.17%) and pensions (43.93%). More surprising? A relatively small portion of Baby Boomers — just 20.81% — reported income from a 401(k). That figure is nearly on par with the catch-all category of 'other savings.' But that may not be shocking to those familiar with how retirement planning has evolved. As retirement writer Donna Fuscaldo noted in a piece for Kiplinger, 'For many of the baby boomers' working years, they had access to pensions and a strong job market. They didn't have to worry about where their income in retirement would come from.' Explore More: Fuscaldo pointed out that by the time Gen X entered the workforce in the '80s and '90s, many companies were shifting away from pensions and toward 401(k) plans. Essentially, the onus for saving for retirement began falling to the employee instead of the employer. Boomers also came into, and out of, the workforce during a time when Social Security largely seemed secure, or at least, not something they had to worry about long-term, giving them one more reason to feel financially secure in retirement. It's only natural that younger generations — Millennials, Zoomers, and even Gen X — rely mostly on income from their current jobs. While they're not withdrawing from their retirement accounts just yet, it's worth noting that 12.78% of respondents aged 55-64 reported 401(k) income, just eight percentage points below the 65-and-older group. As pensions become less prevalent, especially in the private sector, younger generations are expected to lean more on the 401(k) in the future. The survey found that 16.77% of respondents ages 45-54 and 15.43% of those 35-44 reported a 401(k) as an income source. That may sound surprisingly high, especially for those under 45, but it's likely reflective of multigenerational households, where income from a parent's or older relative's 401(k) factors into the household total. Either way, the data underscores the growing importance of self-funded retirement strategies for future generations. Younger generations are also more likely to piece together income from multiple streams. Notably, 36.21% of respondents ages 18-24 said they earn money from side hustles. This age group also reported 0% participation in annuities — a traditional retirement product — compared to 11.56% of Boomers and 6.11% of respondents aged 55-64. This suggests younger Americans could stand to boost their awareness of long-term savings tools. Boomers largely benefitted from a retirement system that included pensions, stable Social Security, and less personal responsibility to actively manage long-term investments. But the same cannot be said for today's rising generations. As Fuscaldo writes, 'In the early days of 401(k)s, people weren't saving, and there wasn't a ton of information available about saving, investing and planning for retirement.' That's no longer the case. Today's workers have access to an abundance of financial education about 401(k)s and virtually every other type of financial product, but they also face more responsibility. And many are skeptical about the long-term viability of Social Security. According to the Nationwide Retirement Institute, 45% of Gen Z and 39% of Millennials believe they'll never see the Social Security benefits they've earned. Perhaps that's why Gen Xers now on the cusp of retirement, as well as Millennials and Zoomers, are embracing new and diverse ways of saving for retirement, from 401(k)s to side hustle savings to life insurance with cash value components. The retirement playbook has changed. And while Boomers may have been able to count on a few key institutions, rising generations will have to get more creative, more informed, and more proactive about their financial and New York Life Insurance surveyed 1,009 Americans aged 18 and older from across the country between March 19 and March 125, 2025, asking twenty-one different questions: (1) What is your current employment status?; (2) Which of the following category or categories best describes your race or ethnicity? (If more than one category applies, please select all that apply); (3) What are the source(s) of income for your household? (Please select all that apply); (4) Please choose the approximate level of investible assets for your household; (5) Using the scale below, how do you feel about the following statement: 'I often take the opportunity to discuss my knowledge of financial products or services with others'; (6) Using the scale below, how do you feel about the following statement: 'I regularly read financial news or financial publications'; (7) Using the scale below, how do you feel about the following statement: 'Thinking about my future sometimes keeps me up at night'; (8) Using the scale below, how do you feel about the following statement: 'I have enough money to live the way I would like to'; (9) Using the scale below, how do you feel about the following statement: 'I believe that The American dream is within reach for people like me'; (10) Using the scale below, how do you feel about the following statement: 'Stories in the media sometimes make me nervous about my financial future'; (11) Using the scale below, how do you feel about the following statement: 'I can't really take risks in my life because I don't have a safety net if things go wrong'; (12) Thinking about the nation's economy, how would you rate economic conditions today?; (13) A year from now, do you think that during the next twelve months we'll have good times financially, or bad times, or what?; (14) Compared to 6 months ago, how has your level of uncertainty changed regarding the following societal and economic issues?; (15) Do you own any of the following products? (Please select all that apply); (16) Do you currently have a financial plan?; (17) On a 1 to 10 scale, where 1 means not at all confident and 10 means completely confident, how confident are you that you will meet your financial goals?; (18) What kind of financial professional have you worked with? (Please select all that apply); (19) Using the slider below, please indicate which statement best describes you.; (20) Using the slider below, please indicate which statement best describes you.; and (21) Using the slider below, please indicate which statement best describes you. In order to take the survey the respondents had to pass two screener questions (S1)Who is the primary financial decision-maker in your household? with the answer being they were at least involved in the households financial decision making and (S2) Which range best describes your total annual household income before taxes? with an answer above $50K. GOBankingRates used PureSpectrum's survey platform to conduct the poll. More From GOBankingRates 4 Things You Should Do When Your Salary Hits $100K If a Financial Advisor Doesn't Ask These 5 Questions in Your Consult, Keep Shopping 5 Steps to Take if You Want To Create Generational Wealth Robert Kiyosaki: 5 Money Habits of People Who Retire Early This article originally appeared on The Retirement Funds Boomers Rely on Most — and Why Rising Generations Will Need a New Strategy
