(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) "We are way below capacity," said Shades Brewing brewer Marcio Buffolo of production amid a national aluminum can shortage on Nov. 3, 2021. Buffolo said prices on everything the brewery uses from grain to fruit purees to labeling have increased 20-50%. Shades Brewing is a small brewery with about 15 employees. While people have been buying the 10-year-old company's beer, profits are down because the cost of materials -- particularly cans -- has tripled since COVID started. The company is stockpiling materials to make sure they aren't hit by delays, and it is also looking at business strategy changes to increase margins.
Shelley is a reporter on The Tribune's Innovation Lab team, where she reports on how businesses, nonprofits and governments can address community problems.