Saskatchewan vodka company expands sales to Alberta and U.S.
CBC
For the first time ever, a Saskatchewan-made vodka is in both NHL rinks in Alberta.
Phantom Light Distillery president Drew Martin said he’s buzzing with pride after the Prince Albert-based company landed deals with the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers.
"Edmonton Oilers, that’s the team I grew up watching and loving. And so for us to be — like you know when you go to a game and you go up and get a drink and it’s your product in that drink? It’s pretty exciting, he said.
"It definitely gives you the warm fuzzies inside, that’s for sure."
The distillery is two years into a contract with the Edmonton Oilers and has now added the Calgary Flames and Calgary Stampeders to its list of sports deals.
Local partners started the craft distillery in 2021, and the business has expanded, steadily growing its annual sales for five consecutive years. It started with five full-time and 10 casual employees, and now has 15 full-time and 30 part-time and seasonal staff.
It has also expanded from a 3,600 square foot distillery to a 33,000 sq. ft. warehouse.
Two Alberta investors joined the company in 2023, prompting Phantom Light to move into the Alberta market.
"We’re slowly growing into that expansion by Drew coming up with some new product lines," said Phantom Light investor Bob Russell.
The company has a lot of "growth potential" with the capacity of its new canning equipment, which is capable of producing approximately 100 cans per minute, he said.
In addition to its original Phantom Light vodka, the company expanded its line to include spiced vodka and a premium product branded as Sipp.
It was a case of "right place, right time," said Alberta sales and marketing representative Kristin Russell.
The company pursued the Scotiabank Saddledome and McMahon Stadium vodka contracts and is currently the official vodka for both stadiums, as well as Edmonton’s RAD Raceway and the Canadian Cowboy Association rodeos.
The products are also sold in select Alberta Sobeys, Co-op and Safeway stores, and Phantom Light provides bar service at events for the luxury car dealer Ferrari of Alberta.
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