The bond between siblings is something that is to be cherished. Siblings are and always will be your closest friends, they will always be there when you need a shoulder to cry on, and of course, they will always give you a hard time when you ask for it. In many instances, family businesses are passed along to siblings, sometimes for generations. In the case of Yuengling, America’s oldest brewery, four sisters, Jen, Wendy, Debbie, and Sheryl Yuengling, have taken on the responsibility of carrying on a nearly 200-year-old tradition.
In the late 1990s, Richard “Dick” Yuengling Jr. asked his daughters if they would be interested in joining the family business. In a predominantly male-dominated industry, you can imagine that the girls felt a lot of pressure at the time, but given the history of the brewery and the legacy that was passed down through their family for almost two centuries, all four sisters enthusiastically accepted their fathers offer. At first, Dick Yuengling used his leadership abilities to train his daughters into eventually taking control of the brewery. Over time, Dick consulted with his daughters before implementing any changes, really showing how highly he thought of his daughters and the value that he believed they could provide to the business.
As the years passed, each of the four sisters transitioned into the leadership roles that they now hold. Jen oversees all of the brewery operations, holding Vice President of Operations, Wendy handles all things marketing-related as Chief Administrative Officer, Debbie handles sales and pricing as Sales Administration and Pricing Manager, and Sheryl serves as Order Services Administrator. With 77-year-old Dick Yuengling at the helm, Yuengling continues to carry on its tradition of making excellent beer while keeping the business run by family members.
Rightfully so, the sisters tend to disagree on things which has caused them to challenge each other to compromise on what is right for the overall business. The girls’ father does a fantastic job leading the business through times of trouble, often serving as the deciding factor for some disagreements that may occur between his daughters. One thing that they are always sure to do is listen to their customers, as they are the backbone and driving force of any business. Wendy stated in a previous interview that she gave for Forbes, “Each previous generation of Yuengling Brewing has left their mark on the business, but also set up the next generation to succeed.”
Yuengling has introduced three new additions to their product line within the last two years, Golden Pilsner, FLIGHT, and most recently, Raging Eagle. Innovation is something that Yuengling is not known for, as their Lager accounts for a large portion of their business. The sisters worked together and decided that in order for them to succeed, and pave the way for future generations, they must adhere to the times and interests of our consumers to create more innovation.
Today, all four sisters are having the time of their lives working for the family business. The Yuengling sisters are just a small portion of the vast history that Yuengling has, but one thing is for sure, they are definitely making their mark.
About Kramer Beverage
Kramer Beverage is South Jersey’s largest beer wholesaler, owned and operated by four generations of the Kramer family since 1924. Kramer Beverage is based out of Hammonton, Atlantic County, and services eight counties in southern New Jersey with top brands from MillerCoors, Constellation, Yuengling, Boston Beer, Heineken USA, Pabst, Diageo, FIFCO, and more. Kramer Beverage also distributes a wide variety of craft beers, from suppliers such as New Belgium and Sierra Nevada, to local favorites including Flying Fish, Double Nickel, Evil Genius, Glasstown, Sly Fox, and 2SP. For more information on Kramer Beverage, please visit www.kramerbev.com.