The giant stills of Iron Fish Distillery in downstate Thompsonville are pictured. Photo courtesy of Iron Fish Distillery)

MARQUETTE — Hand sanitizer, which used to be found on checkout aisles in grocery stores, has become a sold-out product across the state, leaving many essential businesses and organizations sanitizer-less. However, the Marquette Board of Light and Power has partnered with a Lower Peninsula distillery to provide hand sanitizer to those who work in essential services.

MBLP has collaborated with Iron Fish Distillery of downstate Thompsonville to supply Marquette health and human service organizations, local units of government and other essential businesses with over 100 gallons of hand sanitizer.

The shipment arrived Thursday in Marquette and pickups are in progress.

The hand sanitizer that was manufactured by Iron Fish Distillery is sold only in gallon increments for $60.23 per gallon.

Imperial Beverage, the distributor for Iron Fish Distillery with Upper Peninsula operations located in Ishpeming, offered to transport the shipment, and the second shipment of hand sanitizer is already scheduled for next week, MBLP Executive Director Tom Carpenter said in an email.

David Wallace, co-owner of the distillery, stands on a ladder, observing production of the hand sanitizer that will soon be distributed to essential Marquette-area businesses and organizations. (Photo courtesy of Iron Fish Distillery)

“It is important that essential businesses have the ability to function during this worldwide health emergency,” Carpenter said. “Hand sanitizer has been incredibly difficult to find and is an important tool to ensure the health and safety of our employees while performing essential work required by our critical infrastructure business.”

The hand sanitizer produced by Iron Fish Distillery is created using the World Health Organization recommended formula which meets FDA requirements, according to a BLP press release.

Before formulating a plan to help out other essential businesses, Carpenter heard that Richard and Sarah Anderson, co-owners of Iron Fish Distillery and former Marquette residents, were producing hand sanitizer in their facility, and decided to give them a phone call to see if they’d be able to supply MBLP with the disinfectant, as it was desperately needed, he said.

The Andersons had already begun manufacturing hand sanitizer to support the Thompsonville area’s need when Carpenter called them, so they devised a plan to help out other essential businesses.

“We could not be more pleased to be in a position to support the PPE (personal protection equipment) needs of Northern Michigan essential industries and health and human organizations with our production of hand sanitizer. Given our family roots to the Marquette community, we are especially gratified to be able to coordinate delivery of hand sanitizer with the Marquette Board of Light and Power,” Richard Anderson said in a press release.

A gallon of hand sanitizer manufactured by the distillery is pictured. (Photo courtesy of Iron Fish Distillery)

Meanwhile, Carpenter was taking requests from the Marquette area and it wasn’t long before over 100 gallons were ordered, he said, adding that it only took a few days for Iron Fish Distillery to create the hand sanitizer and he commends them for being “proactive.”

“We will continue to help coordinate deliveries and act as a portal for the distribution of the product from Iron Fish (Distillery) in the Marquette Community,” Carpenter added.

Marquette region nonprofits, local units of government and essential industries seeking hand sanitizer for their employees are recommended to email Iron Fish Distillery at info@ironfishdistillery.com.

Jackie Jahfetson can be reached at jjahfetson@miningjournal.net.

Richard Anderson, co-owner of the distillery, loads packaged gallons of hand sanitizer with a forklift. (Photo courtesy of Iron Fish Distillery)