ISLE of Skye Brewery has targeted export growth after lining up a £450,000 investment to expand production at its Uig base.
The company, majority owned by Kenny Webster, is investing in new fermenting and conditioning tanks under plans to triple turnover in the next three years.
Five staff will be taken on as part of the initial expansion phase, building on its current 12-strong headcount. A new building will also be constructed for storage purposes. The expansion will pave the way for Isle of Skye to return to export markets which previously sold its beers, including the US, Canada, Switzerland, Finland and Japan.
The investment, which is being supported by a £116,000 grant from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, underlines the progress Mr Webster has made since acquiring an 80 per cent stake in the business from founder Angus MacRuary in 2013. That deal, which saw Mr MacRuary retain a 20 per cent stake and his wife Pam remain as head brewer, came after a planned merger with Arran Brewery fell through.
Mr Webster has established a distribution hub for the brewery in Rutherglen and overseen a packaging overhaul which has given the beers new names and a more contemporary look.
A new beer has been added to the range, Skye Blaven, and two business development managers have been hired to boost the customer base at home and abroad.
Mr Webster, formerly of soft drinks firm Sangs, said the developments will allow the brewer to double its staff by the same stage next year and triple turnover in the next three. He said: "There is so much more potential to grow the business, both at home and internationally, and we would like to introduce new kegged products.
"We are delighted with HIE's investment as this will allow us to increase production, support our rebranding and establish new national and overseas markets."
The company has taken on Cameron Murray through the ScotGrad graduate placement programme to work on a rebranding and social media project.
Meanwhile, Arran Brewery has launched three new products. Indian dark ale Arran ID, barley wine Arran Sleeping Warrior, and Arran Clyde Puffer Special Reserve, a stout mature in an Arran whisky cask, have been launched following successful pilots.
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