Early in the millennium, after identifying a void in spirits specifically marketed to ethnic communities, Bruce Khabbazi moved to fill it, resulting in the 2006 opening of Peterborough-based Persian Empire Brewery and Distillery.
Located at 636 Queensway Court, the producer of spirits and craft beer was just the second craft distillery in Ontario when it opened. Now, with 15 employees – most of those fulltime – Persian Empire has a strong LCBO presence as well as ships its products across Canada, the United States, Australia and several European countries.
An accounting and financial management graduate and the fourth generation of his family to work in the food industry, Khabbazi faced numerous challenges in realizing his entrepreneurial dream, including securing space on LCBO shelves. After overcoming this initial hurdle, he focused on expanding the distillery’s product line to include Aria beer.
As the distillery’s products and markets have grown, so has the need for a larger space. Khabbazi believes Peterborough has provided his business with an ideal home, offering everything needed for both business and family life.
To hear more about Persian Empire Brewery and Distillery, listen to the interview below:
