The Can Van
The Can Van is a founder-owned, Sacramento-based mobile beverage canning service operating seven WGC-250 canning lines across Northern and Central California for craft breweries, wineries, cideries, and distilleries. Founded in 2011 as the first mobile canning service in the world, it charges per-finished-can with volume-tiered pricing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersSacramento, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Can Van does
The Can Van, founded in 2011 in San Francisco by Jenn Coyle and Lindsey and now headquartered at 1380 Vinci Ave, Sacramento, operates a mobile beverage canning service for craft breweries, wineries, cideries, and distilleries across Northern and Central California (from Santa Cruz to Redding). The company self-identifies as the first and longest operating mobile canning service in the world, with seven mobile canning lines built around WGC-250 5-head fillers, nitrogen dosing for nitro and still beverages without widgets, pressure-sensitive wrap-around labeling, date and lot coding, and on-site quality testing via DO meters and Zahm carbonation equipment. Equipment travels to customer facilities and is set up in customer space, with the company packaging millions of cans of beer, wine, cider, RTD cocktails, hard seltzers, and sake annually across hundreds of unique products.
The business model is transaction-based: revenue is generated primarily by charging per finished can with volume-based decreasing tier pricing, supplemented by minimum day rates for smaller test batches and pass-through sales of cans, ends, 4-packs, 6-packs, and case trays through established vendor relationships. Ancillary revenue streams include consulting/training for canning line repairs, Taproom Crowler machine services, and a Tank Space hosting offering for producers without their own facility. Customer acquisition is largely field-driven (email-based booking) and reinforced by earned media coverage (NY Times, Sacramento Bee, Wine Business Monthly, Beer Advocate) and a strong referral base anchored by long-tenured craft brewery customers in California.
The company operates as The Can Van LLC, a privately held, founder-owned entity with 11-50 employees distributed across Northern California. It has scaled entirely through organic growth with no disclosed external funding, M&A, or parent company relationships. Documented customers span SMB craft breweries (Claimstake, Cellarmaker, Triple Voodoo, Fieldwork, Alibi Ale Works, Grass Valley Brewing, Fall River, Urban Roots, Faction, Device) to enterprise references (Anchor Brewery), with customer testimonials highlighting scheduling flexibility, on-site operational integration, and quality consistency as primary value drivers.
The Can Van firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Can Van
- Legal name
- The Can Van
- Website
- https://thecanvan.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Can Van is a founder-owned, Sacramento-based mobile beverage canning service operating seven WGC-250 canning lines across Northern and Central California for craft breweries, wineries, cideries, and distilleries. Founded in 2011 as the first mobile canning service in the world, it charges per-finished-can with volume-tiered pricing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Can Van industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mobile Canning Services
- NAICS
- Beverage Manufacturing (3121), Breweries (31212)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080), Malt Beverages (2082)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Alcoholic Beverage Co-Packing (Beer, Wine, Spirits, Cider) (AFAFAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Alcoholic Beverage Contract Manufacturing & Co-Packing (AFAFAAAI), Non-Alcoholic Beverage Co-Packing (Soft Drinks, Juice, RTD) (AFAFAIAB), Beverage Packaging (Bottles, Cans, Cartons, Kegs) (IMALAHAD)
Keywords
Where The Can Van is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sacramento
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Can Van business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Canning Services: Charges by the finished can with decreasing price tiers based on total volume. Also offers minimum day rates for smaller test batches. Revenue is transaction-based, driven by volume of cans produced.
- Materials Sales: Sale of cans (various sizes including 8oz, 12oz, 16oz, 19.2oz, 250mL, 375mL, 500mL), ends, 4-packs and 6-packs, case trays to customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Volume-based per-can pricing with decreasing tiers |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Crew level starting position |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | 2nd level operators and Canning supervisors |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
The Can Van product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Can Van operates a mobile beverage canning service that brings WGC-250 5-head filler canning lines and trained crews directly to breweries, wineries, cideries, and distilleries across Northern California. The service provides end-to-end on-site packaging including filling, seaming, labeling, date/lot coding, nitrogen dosing, quality testing, and materials sourcing. The company packages millions of cans annually for craft beverage producers who lack the capital, space, or scale to justify owning their own canning equipment.
Product overview
The Can Van offers a mobile canning service for craft beverages, operating seven WGC-250 5-head filler canning lines that travel to customer locations. The core Mobile Canning Service includes filling, seaming, and packaging of beer, wine, cider, and cocktails on-site. Add-on services include pressure-sensitive wrap-around labeling, date/lot coding, nitrogen dosing for nitro beers, DO meter and carbonation testing, and supply of cans and packaging materials. Consulting services for training, repairs, and efficiency upgrades are also available, along with Tank Space for facilities that need a hosting location.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mobile Canning Service Core mobile canning service that travels to customer facilities across Northern and Central California with seven WGC-250 5-head filler canning lines and trained operators. Handles on-site filling, seaming, labeling, date/lot coding, nitrogen dosing, and pack-out for craft beer, wine, cider, RTD cocktails, hard seltzers, and sake.
- Canning Consulting and Training Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Packages millions of cans annually across Northern California
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Can Van
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Can Van technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
The Can Van partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Can Van competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Crown Holdings: Global metal packaging manufacturer producing aluminum and steel cans for the beverage industry. Comparable as a major incumbent can supplier whose product mix, sizes, and minimum order quantities shape the mobile canning service offerings.
- Wild Goose Canning Technologies (CFT Group): Established manufacturer of canning equipment (Wild Goose fillers) used by mobile canning services, including The Can Van. Operates as part of the broader CFT Group and represents the equipment-side incumbent in the mobile canning ecosystem.
- Codi Manufacturing: Manufacturer of can seamers and small-format canning equipment widely used in craft beverage packaging. Comparable to The Can Van through the equipment ecosystem that powers mobile canning operations and through its in-house canning services.
- Ball Corporation: One of the world's largest manufacturers of aluminum beverage cans and a major supplier to craft beverage producers. Comparable as the dominant can supply incumbent whose pricing and availability directly affect mobile canning service economics.
- Ardagh Metal Packaging: Large-scale producer of beverage cans and ends serving global beverage brands. Comparable as a broad incumbent in beverage can manufacturing that influences the supply environment in which The Can Van's customers operate.
Direct peers
- Iron Heart Canning: One of the largest mobile canning service companies in the United States, operating multi-region fleets that serve craft breweries with on-site filling, seaming, and packaging. Directly comparable to The Can Van in service model, equipment, and target customer base.
Emerging players
- American Canning: Supplier of empty cans, ends, and mobile canning equipment to craft beverage producers and mobile canning services. Comparable to The Can Van on the materials and small-format canning supply side and an emerging player offering turnkey canning equipment packages.
Others
- PakTech: Leading supplier of recyclable ring carriers, 4-pack and 6-pack handles, and case trays used by craft beverage producers. Comparable as an upstream/downstream packaging supplier in the same canned beverage value chain.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Can Van social profiles
Digital presenceThe Can Van financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Can Van leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Can Van funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Can Van M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Can Van
What does The Can Van do?
The Can Van operates a mobile beverage canning service that brings WGC-250 5-head filler canning lines and trained crews directly to breweries, wineries, cideries, and distilleries across Northern California. The service provides end-to-end on-site packaging including filling, seaming, labeling, date/lot coding, nitrogen dosing, quality testing, and materials sourcing. The company packages millions of cans annually for craft beverage producers who lack the capital, space, or scale to justify owning their own canning equipment.
Is The Can Van a public or private company?
The Can Van is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Can Van founded?
The Can Van was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Can Van based?
The Can Van is headquartered in Sacramento, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Can Van make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Canning Services are the primary driver. The others are materials Sales.
Who are The Can Van's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Crown Holdings, Wild Goose Canning Technologies (CFT Group), Codi Manufacturing, Ball Corporation and Ardagh Metal Packaging. Iron Heart Canning is listed as a direct peer. American Canning is listed as an emerging player. PakTech is listed as an others.
Does The Can Van have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Can Van.
What industry is The Can Van in?
The Can Van's product category is Mobile Canning Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFAIAA, Alcoholic Beverage Co-Packing (Beer, Wine, Spirits, Cider), with a secondary code of AFAFAAAI, Alcoholic Beverage Contract Manufacturing & Co-Packing. Its NAICS code is 3121 and its SIC code is 2080.