Company Description – Located just 30 minutes west of Kingston in Bath, Ontario, MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Co. is a family-operated craft brewery founded in 2012 by eighth-generation farmers Ivan and Daniel MacKinnon. Built on more than 200 years of family farming heritage dating back to 1784, the brewery transforms hops, barley, and wheat grown on its farm into locally crafted beers that celebrate rural Ontario.

Housed in beautifully restored century-old barns, the destination also features an on-site retail store, taproom, restaurant, and expansive three-acre patio serving handmade pizza, beer tastings, and local hospitality. Consistently ranked among Bath’s top attractions, MacKinnon Brothers draws visitors from across the region while supporting agritourism, local agriculture, and the rural economy.

Project Description – As visitor numbers increased, the brewery’s aging point-of-sale (POS) system limited inventory visibility, sales analytics, and operational decision-making. During busy patio season, a single payment terminal created transaction bottlenecks and longer wait times, while unreliable rural internet connectivity occasionally disrupted card payments and day-to-day operations. Limited access to real-time sales and inventory data also made it more difficult to align brewing schedules, purchasing, and production planning.

Through the Retail Modernization Project Grant (RMPG), MacKinnon Brothers implemented an upgraded POS system, enhanced back-of-house analytics tools, and a dedicated mobile hotspot to maintain reliable operations during internet interruptions. The investment increased transaction capacity, improved inventory forecasting and sales reporting, and provided a more resilient digital foundation for both retail and hospitality operations.

Project Impact – The modernization has enhanced the customer experience by reducing wait times during peak tourism periods while giving the brewery the real-time insights needed to better manage inventory, production, and purchasing. By improving operational resilience in a rural setting, the project supports local employment, regional suppliers, and MacKinnon Brothers’ continued role as a premier agritourism destination and contributor to Eastern Ontario’s rural economy.