EDINBURGH-based beer company Innis & Gunn has seen sales soar 64% in 2011 on the back of a seven-figure investment last year.
The firm yesterday reported a 20% rise in turnover in 2010 to £5.2 million, excluding duty, after selling 544,535 cases of beer.
But Innis & Gunn has already surpassed this figure in 2011 and managing director Dougal Sharp hopes the lucrative Christmas and US holiday season will push it further.
He said: “Last year’s seven-figure inward investment has really paid off with an amazing 2011 so far that has surpassed all expectations.”
Mr Sharp said the company remained profitable but declined to give precise figures.
Innis & Gunn’s investment programme saw it purchase new offices in Edinburgh city centre, bring its UK sales operation in-house and set up Innis & Gunn USA.
During 2010 exports accounted for 75% of turnover, up 10 percentage points on 2009, in part due to the weakening of sterling.
This has ticked up to 80% of revenue in 2011 as it expanded in key overseas markets such as Canada and Sweden, where the company has secured listings for its Rum Cask ale.
Mr Sharp said: “We are only in a handful of global markets. Clearly there are opportunities out there we haven’t even begun to look at yet.”
Innis & Gunn, whose beer is brewed under contract by Belhaven, said the launch of draught Innis & Gunn Original boosted UK sales.
Mr Sharp said subdued consumer spending is actually boosting brands like his.
“Consumers are increasingly looking to spend money on products that are good value but, in the case of beer, have an interesting flavour and an interesting story to tell.”
Innis & Gunn was established in 2003 as a joint venture with William Grant & Sons and sold to a management buy-out team in 2007.
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