Clan system could work out just fine for Moray craft beer firms

Lossiemouth firm joins the Clan
Lossiemouth firm joins the Clan

TWO MORAY CRAFT breweries are part of a northern ‘clan’ that is aiming to boost their export sales by up to £2.5million.

Craft Beer Clan of Scotland is a division of the Glasgow-based food and drink wholesaler JW Filshill.

They have already gained overseas business worth around £200,000 for several craft brewers in Scotland – including Lossiemouth-based Windswept and the Speyside Craft Brewers in Forres.

The Craft Beer Clan is working with 22 brewers and four craft distillers and aims to penetrate key markets in the Asia Pacific region – and have already brokered deals in China, Hong Kong and Dubai.

Head of export for JW Filshill, Chris Miller, said that Chinese consumers in particular are hugely interested in Scotland. He said: “Craft beer offers these consumers a similar story to that of Scotch – the skill that goes into making it, the individuals and families who lovingly craft it and the wider story behind it.”

The Craft Beer Clan participated in a high-profile event at Gleneagles that included 15 meetings with prospective importers from North America, Russia, Scandinavia, Thailand and Spain.