Butcombe Brewing Company has made a £4 million investment in the capability, capacity and quality of its brewing business in the West Country.
The brewer has invested in four new projects including a new craft beer production unit, newly installed packaging lines, alongside a beer storage and delivery facility in Bridgwater, creating 12 local jobs bolstering the West Country economy. In addition, there will be investment at the existing Butcombe brewery to increase capacity.
The investment will see Butcombe install a bottling and kegging line at their second site to bring the quality control of their bottled and kegs beers back in house. The development will support the double digit growth in their keg range, including their hero brand Butcombe Original, as well as Goram (Avon IPA5%), Blonde (Blonde Ale 4.5%) and Bohemia – a 4.7% ABV Pilsner which is brewed with a lager yeast and cold fermented for four weeks to give an authentic Czech Pilsner taste from the heart of Somerset.
The new brewery facility and distribution unit proximity to the M5 will allow for faster distribution across it’s heartland and further afield.
Butcombe are also investing in their current brewery through the purchase of extra fermentation and conditioning vessels to improve capacity and capability. The improvements to the brewery will allow Butcombe to produce up to an additional 40,000 barrels of beer per year enabling their continued growth.
Steve Wilkinson, Managing Director of Brewing & Brands at Butcombe Brewery said: “This significant investment will provide us with a new platform to better service our loyal Butcombe customers more effectively at a lower cost which we intend to reinvest in our Butcombe beer brands to secure our future growth, and keep pace with the increasing demand for all of our new beers. Bringing our packaging “in-house” will give us better quality control over our brands and enhance our capability.
“The investment in specialist bottling and kegging equipment is a rare opportunity for a regional brewer of our size to really gear up and satisfy the rapidly changing market, to redouble our efforts in our heartland with Butcombe Cask beers at the centre of what we do supported by the same consistent quality beers in bottle and keg.
“These improvements will allow us to ensure we retain and enhance our quality reputation while stepping up production to move closer to our long-term goal of becoming the number one regional brewer.”
-ENDS-
About Steve Wilkinson
Steve Wilkinson joined Butcombe Brewing Company on 11th October in the role of Brewing & Brands MD with responsibility for the company’s brewing and wholesale businesses. Steve has a strong track record working in both the UK and internationally with businesses including Diageo, SABMiller and more recently Fuller, Smith & Turner in Brewing, International premium brands, Sales, Distribution and Operational roles.
About Butcombe Brewery
Butcombe Brewery Co. was founded in 1978 and has been an icon of the real beer movement ever since. With an ever-expanding estate of 35 pubs, Butcombe Brewing Co. now forms part of the Liberation Group, it is moving into a new, exciting phase of its journey, expanding its beer and cider range as well as its Pubs and Inns estate.
Enquiries:
Butcombe Brewing Co. Tel: 01934 864898
Emmy Webster, Butcombe Brewing Co. Marketing Manager
Henry Conner
Senior Account Executive
D +44 207 457 2024 | M 07709 577073