THE FAST GROWING craft brewing industry in Moray has received a massive boost recently when the pioneering Spey Valley Brewery announced they would be investing £300,000 in a new facility next month.
The Keith-based firm were the first Moray-based business to enter the craft brewing market with their two-barrel production plant in 2012 – now the new investment will see production of their popular beers expand ten-fold.
Support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Clydesdale Bank is allowing the expansion of the business from its current 600-bottle capacity to over 6000 by next year, with construction on the new brew house expected to be completed by the end of September.
Spey Valley say that they also have plans to raise their profile on a national and international stage through investment in branding, marketing and a social media campaign. The brewery will also seek to commit more time in building its local profile, joining other Moray craft brewers at beer and food festivals and becoming more involved in other local events.
Joint owner David MacDonald said: “We saw the market buzzing and growing back when we started in 2007 – but at the time we were not in a position to invest nor did we have the experience.
“However, the positive feedback and demand for our beers has been so strong in recent years that we knew now was the right time to expand. That was fourteen months ago, and we are now finally realising our dream to grow Spey Valley into one of Scotland’s leading micro-brew brands.”
There has been a dramatic growth in the craft beer sector over the last ten years with recently released figures suggested that the market grew in value by 53% in the UK over the last year.
Sales generated by the licensed and hospitality trade reflected that rise with growth from £250million to £350million.
Spey Valley Brewery is poised to become one of success stories in the Scottish micro-brewery sector, doubling its turnover in each of the past three years since their commissioning of the two barrel plant in 2012.
The brewery has also been short-listed for the Best Business Growth Award in this year’s Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards.