From the beginning

Before starting New Belgium, our co-founder, Kim Jordan, was a social worker. She saw the inequities in our communities as well as across the country and made a committed effort to address them in our company.

From simple efforts, like offering health benefits to domestic partners in the 1990s, to more complex business maneuvers, like opening the financial statements to co-workers and gifting them shares in the company, Kim wrote her own playbook on leadership. Over the years, New Belgium has developed these practices into a comprehensive business model we call Human-Powered Business, based on the recognition that our coworkers drive the company forward, and, in return, the company invests deeply in coworker and community wellbeing. This model fosters a unique culture defined by individual empowerment and collective action that drives better long-term business results.

As the craft beer movement grew in the 1990s and 2000s, Kim was the only woman among dozens of men pioneering a new way of brewing. The face of craft beer is changing rapidly, and New Belgium is dedicated to transforming the culture of craft beer with dedicated and intentional work to build a more diverse, equitable and truly inclusive business and industry – for the benefit of the coworkers, customers, and the communities that support our success.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

New Belgium strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination based on race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and expression (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current or prospective service in the uniformed services, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law. 

We welcome all, and acknowledge that racial, gender, and other injustices are thickly imbedded throughout our society today. Direct action must be taken to redesign our economy and communities in a truly inclusive way. We are committed to taking bold action within our own walls and amidst the entire craft beer community.

Current Initiatives 

• Comprehensive audit of the co-worker and customer experience throughout our hiring process, workplace, marketplace, and media platforms to be followed by improvement initiatives 

• Mandatory company-wide Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion trainings 

• Expansion of coworker-led affinity groups to promote community, connection, and visibility 

• Strategic and philanthropic partnerships that center leadership from communities facing historical and systemic inequalities and increase equitable access to economic opportunities 

• Members of PwC’s CEO Pledge for Action on Diversity & Inclusion 

• Members of the Human Rights Campaign’s Business Coalition for the Equality Act 

• Employ a companywide DEI Director to lead DEI initiatives across the New Belgium and Bell’s Brewery family 

• Initiated a DEI Coworker Council representing our entire coworker community our as part of our Human-Powered Business Governance System, designed to hold ourselves accountable to strengthening our unique, people-centric approach to business for decades to come

SUPPORTING THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY

Pride isn’t limited to 30 days once a year but is 24/7, 365 days a year. It wasn’t always a celebration. We remember those at Stonewall who fought for visibility and equality allowing us to celebrate how far we have come, while continuing the work until equal rights exist among the entire LGBTQ+ community. Learn more about the Stonewall uprising of 1969 and take a walking tour of this historical area here.  

New Belgium has been an advocate for LGBTQ+ communities for over 20 years. We employed the first Diversity + Inclusion specialist in the craft beer industry, and are a member of the Human Rights Campaign Business Coalition for the Equality Act and advocate against discriminatory public policy. We are proud to support organizations working for LGBTQ+ health, education, and equity year-round.  

We do not make financial contributions to organizations of any kind that support anti-LGBTQ+ policy at any level. 

Brewed for All doesn’t just apply to our beer. We are so proud to be the very first craft brewery recognized as one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality by the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index, with a perfect score of 100, and to maintain that perfect score in 2023. The Human Right’s Campaign Foundation’s list is the national benchmarking tool on corporate policies, practices and benefits relevant to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer employees. In addition to offering equal spousal and partner health care, our onsite physician in Fort Collins is trained in transgender medicine and healthcare. 

Pride at New Belgium is our coworker community group championing LGBTQ+ coworkers. It convenes those who identify as a member of the community as well as allies. Together, this coworker-led group works to foster visibility, community, and connection in a truly inclusive way.

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