Location/Region: Ferndale, MI
Industry: Craft Beverage Producer
Apps implemented: Sales, Inventory, Accounting, Manufacturing, Purchase, Planning
Company size: 14
Software replaced: QuickBooks and SAP Business One
Hosting type: Odoo Online
When B. Nektar Meadery in Ferndale, Michigan, realized it was spending far too much time on spreadsheets and struggling to schedule production efficiently, co-owner Brad Dahlhofer turned to Odoo. The switch to an integrated ERP platform transformed their operations, slashing planning time and simplifying processes across purchasing, inventory, and manufacturing.
Founded in 2008 during a tough economic downturn, B. Nektar began as a passion project after Brad and his wife were laid off. What started as a side hustle brewing mead quickly became a full-time venture, despite the challenges of raising a three-month-old at the same time. Armed with just $15,000 and a car trunk full of bottles, Brad drove around Michigan hand-delivering mead to stores with his baby in tow.
B. Nektar has since grown into a national brand, distributing mead, cider, and beer across nearly half of the United States. The company is known for pioneering modern-style meads and blending them with the spirit of the craft beer boom. With a team of about 14 people, B. Nektar sells directly to consumers and through a network of distributors, retail stores, bars, and restaurants, and even does some online sales.
"We were one of the first to do modern meads and kind of took off when the craft beer boom happened."
Outdated Tools Held Them Back
Before switching to Odoo, B. Nektar tried multiple systems (including QuickBooks and SAP Business One) but none met their growing needs. Brad, who had a background in IT and logistics automation, knew the limitations of spreadsheets and clunky ERP tools. He needed something that could manage purchasing, inventory, manufacturing orders, and cost accounting in one place.
Despite investing in SAP Business One, Brad found it “cumbersome” and “a bad experience,” especially in terms of search functionality and user interface. He also evaluated a few brewing and winemaking-specific software options but found none of them compelling or reliable.
"I really wasn’t happy at all with SAP Business One. It felt like something built in the ‘90s."
Odoo Made The Difference
The feature that convinced Brad to move forward was the Production Scheduling Tool. It allowed him to input forecasted sales and automatically compare them with inventory levels to generate manufacturing orders. This visibility and automation were exactly what the company needed.
Since adopting Odoo, the impact has been dramatic:
One day a week vs full-time staff: What once took a full-time employee to manage (purchasing, scheduling, inventory) is now handled by Brad himself in just a few hours per week.
Streamlined Production Planning: With the Manufacturing app, he schedules batches based on forecasted sales, which syncs with real-time inventory and production capacity.
Simplified Purchasing: The Purchase module helps generate orders directly based on need, reducing guesswork and preventing stockouts..
Financial Clarity: The Accounting app brought immediate value, giving the company clear oversight into cost accounting and profit margins.
Inventory accuracy: Eliminating the chaos of spreadsheet management. The Inventory app helps the team track raw materials and finished goods in real time, supporting better purchasing decisions and reducing overstock.
"Now I can do all my scheduling and purchasing in a few hours each week. It used to take a full-time person."
What’s Next for B. Nektar
As the company continues to grow, B. Nektar is preparing to expand its product lineup with a new non-alcoholic line, a strategic move in response to shifting consumer preferences. “People are drinking less, so we need to make this transition to adding non-alcoholic products into our lineup,” says Brad.
They're already in the early stages of development, marking a new chapter for the brand. At the same time, Brad is exploring more automation features within Odoo and considering ways to expand online sales, all while keeping operations lean and scalable.
If your business is stuck juggling spreadsheets or frustrated with outdated ERP systems, B. Nektar’s story is proof that modern, flexible tools like Odoo can transform your operations. Whether you're brewing mead or managing a supply chain, the right software can make all the difference.