THIRTEEN Scottish craft beer producers have struck new supply deals with supermarket group Asda, with a combined value of more than £850,000 annually.
The 13 suppliers will provide Asda with a total of 25 new product lines, with the vast bulk of the supermarket group’s 61 stores in Scotland stocking at least some of the beers covered by the raft of supply deals.
Asda noted it had worked with Isle of Arran, Isle of Skye, Loch Ness and Kelburn breweries in boosting its craft beer offering through the latest supply deals.
It added that it had also “built a relationship” with The Craft Beer Clan of Scotland to bring in beers from Deeside Brewery, Eden Mill, Jaw Brew, Knops, Lerwick Brewery, Stewart Brewing, Loch Lomond Brewery, Wooha Brewing Company and WEST Brewery.
The Craft Beer Clan was unveiled in 2014 by Scottish wholesaler JW Filshill. It was established with a focus on helping Scottish craft brewers export their beers to Far Eastern and other overseas markets.
Asda highlighted the major part played by women brewers in more than half of the craft beer producers involved in the new supply deals.
It said: “More than half of the 13 breweries are…run by or in partnership with a woman, supporting recent industry figures that the number of professional women brewers is on the rise in the UK and they are becoming increasingly influential.”
Asda added that the new supply deals meant that its stores north of the Border would now stock more than 75 Scottish beers, ales and ciders.
It highlighted the strength of demand for Scottish craft beer and real ale.
Brian O’Shea, Asda’s buying manager for Scotland, said: “The craft beer culture continues to grow, and it’s clear customers are trading up to more premium beers, particularly ones which come from local brands.”
Heather McDonald, owner of Wooha Brewing Company said: “We are delighted to have secured our first major supermarket listing with Asda thanks to our relationship with Craft Beer Clan.”
She noted that Wooha was one of the youngest microbreweries in Scotland, having just celebrated its first anniversary.
Chris Miller, director at The Craft Beer Clan of Scotland, said: “The Craft Beer Clan works hard to promote Scottish craft beer at home and abroad, and it's fantastic we’ve been able to work with a major retailer such as Asda.”
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