Business & Tech
Anne Arundel Brewer Will Sell Its Beer In Some Walmart, Sam's Club Stores
An Anne Arundel brewer will soon sell its beer in some Walmart and Sam's Club stores. The Annapolis business honors the nation's military.
![Armed Forces Brewing Company on July 12 announced that it will start selling its beer, not pictured above, in some Walmart and Sam's Club stores in 2023.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/shutterstock/24287450/20220721/045209/styles/patch_image/public/shutterstock-1212903172___21164631873.jpg)
ANNAPOLIS, MD β A military-tribute brewer will soon sell its beer in some Walmart and Sam's Club stores. The business, Armed Forces Brewing Company, said those locations will start carrying the beer sometime next year.
None of those locations will be in Maryland, however. A state law from 1978 prohibited new Maryland grocers and discount stores from selling alcohol, The Washington Post reported.
That ban is driving Armed Forces Brewing Company to turn out of state for its grocer sales. The business recently started selling its beer in 69 different H-E-B grocery stores in Texas.
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The beer is also available at dozens of liquor stores in Maryland, Virginia and Rhode Island.
Customers can find their nearest vendor using this search tool or buy the beer online at this link.
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Brewer Sells Its Stock
Armed Forces Brewing Company began selling its stock in July 2021, filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission show. The owners think this offering is helping the business expand.
"Our stock offering is kicking a-- because of the passion of our growing investor family spreading the word," CEO Alan Beal said July 12 in a newsletter announcing the Walmart, Sam's Club and H-E-B partnerships. "They are excited about the WalMart deal and our distribution into Texas - all made possible by the capital they have invested into our early stage company."
Armed Forces Brewing Company is selling off 750,000 shares, which is 16.19 percent of the business. These shares cost $10 each and are worth a combined $7.5 million. Every investor must buy at least 20 shares, which is $200 in stock.
This stock sale is helping the company fundraise, which is key for the young brewer.
Related: Brewery Owner Is Navy Seal Who Was Part Of Bin Laden Raid
Investor Opportunities
Armed Forces Brewing Company offers perks to investors. Shareholders get merchandise, a beer discount and at least one ticket to the annual shareholder event. Larger investors are eligible to create their own beer and attend VIP experiences. All those tiered perks are posted here.
The shares, however, do not come with company voting rights and they are not traded on a public stock exchange. That means shareholders may never be able to sell their stock for a profit.
Armed Forces Brewing Company also said it has never paid its shareholders with dividends, which are a slice of the profit. The business does not expect to be able to pay dividends in the near future either.
Beal said more than 4,800 investors have bought a stake in the company.
"We are well on our way to our goal of $7,500,000," Beal said. "That allows us to buy or build our own brewery and get us on the road to profitability."
Interested investors can buy stock at this link.
More information on the company is posted at armedforcesbrewingco.com.
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