Manjit Minhas

Early life

Manjit Minhas was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. At the age of 19, while studying petroleum engineering at the University of Calgary, she sold her Toyota RAV4 for $10,000 and teamed up with her brother Ravinder to become entrepreneurs in the alcoholic beverage industry.

Career

The first major project undertaken by Manjit and Ravinder Minhas involved importing private label spirits for a chain of liquor stores owned by their parents. In 2002, they launched Mountain Crest Brewing Company, debuting their eponymous beer brewed under contract in Alberta. The brand quickly gained popularity due to its affordability and ambitious marketing campaign.

In 2006, the siblings purchased the second-oldest brewery in the United States, the Joseph Huber Brewery in Monroe, Wisconsin. They renamed it the Minhas Craft Brewery and modernized it to meet the requirements demanded of 21st century brewing operations. At the same time, they also bought the rights to the Huber and Rhinelander beer brands and Blumers soda brand.

Since the Minhases acquired the brewery, it has produced beer brands such as Boxer Lager, Lazy Mutt Ale and Huber Bock, in addition to private label beers and spirits for retailers such as Costco, Trader Joe’s, Tesco, and Walgreens. They opened a second facility, the Minhas Micro Brewery, in their home city of Calgary in 2012. Today, the Minhas Breweries & Distillery is a group of companies encompassing Minhas Distillery, Minhas Winery, and Minhas Kitchen, among other ventures.

In 2015, Manjit Minhas joined CBC’s Dragon’s Den as one of the show’s iconic Dragons, a role that brought her national fame. During her time on the show, she has invested in over two dozen promising startups presented by the show’s contestants.

In 2017, Minhas joined ATB Financial’s board of directors, simultaneously serving on its Governance and Conduct Review and Human Resources Committees, while in 2020, she joined the Calgary Airport Authority’s board of directors, and in 2023, she joined Enbridge’s board of directors.

She launched The Manjit Minhas Podcast in 2020, featuring herself as host in conversation with prominent Canadian business leaders, and it quickly became a Top-10 hit on Apple Podcasts. In 2024, she purchased a stake in the Edmonton Stingers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League, officially becoming a co-owner of the team.

Manjit Minhas has also undertaken several major philanthropic enterprises during her career. In 2017, she co-chaired the United Way of Calgary and Area campaign, helping raise $50 million to support local economic, health, and social programs. In 2024, she worked with YW Calgary to raise $50 million for a crisis shelter supporting women and children escaping domestic abuse. The Canadian Armed Forces appointed Minhas an honorary lieutenant-colonel in 2022.

Manjit Minhas’s achievements have also earned her widespread recognition in the business world, including multiple awards and distinctions. In 2011, she was celebrated as the “Top Entrepreneur Woman of the Year” by Chatelaine Magazine and CanadianSME. That same year, Ernst & Young named her Entrepreneur of the Year for the Prairie Region, and PROFIT Magazine honored her with the Top Growth Entrepreneur award. In 2012, she received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, a prestigious award marking the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s accession. JA Southern Alberta presented her with the 1st Alumni of Influence Award in 2017, while the following year, Minhas was named one of “Canada’s Top 40 Under 40” by Caldwell Partners. 2024 brought new accolades, as she was given the Canadian version of the King Charles III Coronation Medal, as well as the United Nations Global Citizen Laureate Award for her commitment to gender equality and social impact.

Net Worth

Information on Manjit Minhas’ net worth is not currently available to the public.