Employees become partners in brewery company

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - Employees of Vermont’s Switchback Brewery Co. are becoming partners in the business.

Owner Bill Cherry said he wants the business to be Vermont-owned forever. He will remain president.

The announcement affecting 30 employees was made during the company’s annual meeting in Burlington on Monday.

Workers will become owners with a stock ownership plan.

The brewery was founded in 2002. It distributes beers in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.