Each fall, for the last 38 years, apple-loving visitors flock to Fort Wayne, Indiana to celebrate the life of John Chapman. As part of the festivities, guests are able to play games, watch and listen to live entertainment and eat. Although he was born in Massachusetts, Chapman owned land in Indiana and is hailed across the state as an adopted son.

To the rest of the country, Chapman is Johnny Appleseed, a legend in elementary school classrooms. He has also lent his name to a new Indiana business selling a product he would probably be quite fond of – ale cider.

Chapman Brewing Company is the brainchild of Scott Fergusson, the dean of Trine University's Ketner School of Business and an accomplished entrepreneur in his own right. The mayor of Angola praised Fergusson's efforts and said that the company would help spur growth in northeast Indiana.

Fergusson told Inside Indiana Business:

"First and foremost, we want to have a product that will guarantee repeat business. Quality is everything in this market and we intend on serving the highest quality ale cider in the market. If we're able to produce the highest quality cider and meet delivery commitments, our workforce in Angola will easily double in a few short years."

The plan is for Chapman's ranks to expand to eight employees in the next two years, including two 2013 Trine University graduates.

As the company grows – and it could well exceed its own expectations given the locals' fondness for apples – Fergusson and his leadership team will need to adopt Indiana business management software systems to support its scaling. Although Chapman might not need a Microsoft Dynamics NAV system yet, the time will soon come when the need for efficient processes will dictate adoption.