Islay Ales has highlighted its growth since receiving grant funding and taking advantage of support from taxpayer-backed advisory service Business Gateway, highlighting increased distribution on the island and its recent launch of a lager.
Entrepreneurs Mackay Smith and Donald MacKenzie, who have owned all of Islay Ales since July 2018, have presided over a doubling of turnover on the back of the four-barrel brewery’s growth. Islay Ales declined to disclose its turnover.
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Business Gateway said Islay Ales’ products were now sold in all bars and hotels on the island, describing them as a “popular choice for locals and tourists”.
Bridgend-based Islay Ales’ products are also available on the ferry crossing. The business has three permanent full-time employees. In addition, it has three full-time seasonal posts. Mr Smith and Mr MacKenzie also run an established whisky company, The Islay Boys.
Mr Smith flagged planning work on “bespoke new premises that will allow us to streamline our brewing process and accommodate the growth in our expanded operations to be able to meet the increased demand for our product”.
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Mr Smith, who is head brewer at the business, highlighted “a contemporary new brand” for Islay Ales.
He said: “Since introducing the new brand, we have increased our customer base, and boast much broader appeal across a range of demographics. This has directly contributed to our increased turnover.”
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