The beer industry may be known for its collegial vibe, but with the ever-growing competition for customers, maintaining a competitive edge continues to be critical. As of this summer there were more than 7,500 active breweries and many more in the planning stages.
This crowded field creates two potentially conflicting quandaries for breweries. The first is how to recruit skilled employees who may have a wide range of employers from which to choose. The second is how to protect the information and other elements that help a brewery distinguish itself.
Last year, we saw one very public effort by a brewery (Iowa’s Toppling Goliath) to enforce a non-compete agreement and restrict a former employee from going to work for a competitor. This has left many breweries wondering whether they are striking the proper balance between protecting their information and interests and keeping the brewery an appealing place to work.