Mast Brothers To Open Chocolate Brewery, School Program Inside Brooklyn Navy Yard
In a clever business and marketing move, the Mast Brothers Chocolate company is taking the concept of an expansion further than just finding a new home. So not only will they be moving into the Green Manufacturing Center within the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s walls, but they’re also building a Chocolate Brewery and introducing a community program for grade schoolers with the convenient acronym of M.A.S.T. (Math, Art, Science, Technology).
The move — which will take place over the next three years — comes as Mast continues its swift rise from Williamsburg startup to international chocolate manufacturer, undeterred by last December’s controversy over the quality and accuracy of their brand’s bean-to-bar claims.
“We are humbled by the opportunity to grow our family business in such a stunning, historic, and state-of-the-art facility in the Brooklyn Navy Yard,” says Rick Mast, co-founder/CEO of MAST. His brother and company co-founder/President Michael agreed, adding that
“it is a dream come true to be a part of the incredible Brooklyn Navy Yard community and have the chance to create many more delicious jobs.”Another expansion move is the planned addition of 800 new jobs — which will be filled with recruitment help from the Navy Yard’s Employment Center.
Mast Brothers Chocolate signed a 15-year deal to lease the space. In a statement, Mast and the Yard described the change as an increase in production capabilities and innovation, including at the chocolate brewery, “where they will be brewing, bottling, kegging, and distributing its popular non-alcoholic chocolate beer.”
As for the education initiative, M.A.S.T. “will bring grade-school students from local Brooklyn public-schools into the production facility throughout the year and will offer programming in conjunction with BLDG 92, the Yard’s public exhibition center, to provide public tours and other programs.”
MAST is just the latest food manufacturer to choose Wallabout and the Navy Yard as their new home: Kings County Distillery and Brooklyn Roasting Company already call it home and Russ & Daughters is due to arrive in time for the new year.