Constellation Brands, the third largest beer company in the nation, this past Wednesday reportedly terminated dozens of employees on its craft beer sales team, including at Funky Buddha Brewery in Oakland Park, according to a sales representative who was laid off.
The former employee declined to be identified out of concern for issues with severance pay but told New Times that they were let go unexpectedly yesterday morning and that as many as 49 others, possibly more, were also laid off throughout the country.
Citing a source close to the matter, Beer Street Journal said the layoffs include as many as 60 people. The terminations affect most of the craft beer sales team for Constellation's craft beer portfolio, which also includes Ballast Point Brewing Company in San Diego and Four Corners Brewing Company in Dallas.
Constellation, which is the third largest beer company in the U.S., also owns brands such as Corona and Modelo. The New York-based company purchased Funky Buddha in August 2017 for an undisclosed amount.
New Times hasn't confirmed the number of employees let go, and emails to John Linn, Funky Buddha's marketing director, weren't immediately returned.
However, the layoffs came the same day as news of Constellation's investing at least $4 billion in Canopy Growth, a publicly traded Canadian cannabis company, according to ganjapreneur.com. Constellation Brands is a public company worth at least $6.8 billion.
The alcoholic-beverage company also owns several wineries, including Robert Mondavi, and spirits brands such as Svedka vodka and High West whiskey.
With its new stake in Canopy, Constellation is expected to delve into making cannabis beverages, specifically cannabis beer. According to the Wall Street Journal, the beer company plans to work with the grower to produce cannabis-infused beers.
Funky Buddha Brewery. 1201 NE 38th St., Oakland Park; 954-440-0046; funkybuddhabrewery.com.