One of Scotland’s most awarded independent breweries has reported a record 2000% increase in online beer and lager sales since launching its new next-day home delivery service during lockdown.
Based at Alva, near Stirling, Harviestoun Brewery is a pioneering producer of nine high-quality craft beer and lagers.
With bars and restaurants across Scotland forced to close during lockdown, Harviestoun’s established online business boomed as beer lovers were driven online to get their brews delivered direct to their doorstep, but this new trend is showing no signs of slowing down.
Harviestoun now offers a next day delivery service to anywhere in the UK if ordered online before 1pm, including its most famous award-winning beer, Schiehallion (pronounced she-hal-ion) pilsner, which is named after a well-known mountain in Perthshire. Schiehallion is unique among British beers as being the only current brand to win the coveted ‘World’s Best Pilsner’ award. It has also been the best-seller in its many formats, from fridge pack cans and 500ml bottles to a new 5 litre mini-keg, making it perfect for the garden barbecue in the summer months.
Stuart Cook, Managing Director at Harviestoun Brewery, said: “The coronavirus pandemic has substantially changed the way we all shop.
“We were hopeful the Harviestoun reputation would count for a lot amongst beer drinkers who hadn’t been able to get out for a pint in their local during lockdown, and we have been blown away by the response to our ‘beer to your doorstep’ service.”
Harviestoun has also launched a new ‘business to business’ trade delivery service as ‘direct to consumer’ sales continue to grow. Like so many businesses, Harviestoun has been hugely impacted by the closure of the On Trade during the pandemic and had to completely rethink its business.
Raymond Fitzsimmons, Assistant Restaurant Manager of The Boat House at Cameron House, the luxury five-star hotel on Loch Lomond, said: “Harviestoun is one of our most trusted suppliers and always willing to give a helping hand. We recently had busy weekend and needed more stock delivered without hesitation they delivered. Their customer service is paramount.”
Agnieszka B Sledz, Cellar Master at Gleneagles, the luxury five-star hotel in Perthshire, said: “Harviestoun is actually the best if it comes to collection, deliveries and overall service”
Harviestoun’s Stuart Cook, added: “In these tough times for the industry, getting beer fresh from our brewery direct to the trade is critical as a support mechanism. We believe that by using our same next day ‘direct to customer’ delivery partners or our own van fleet, we have the right option for everyone. With 3 vans now regularly full and out on the road, Harviestoun deliver to trade locally, across the central belt and now are traveling up as far as Aberdeen to service the demand. We like to respond as soon as we can and at times are able to do the same day/next day if required by the customer”
Harviestoun beers now grace the tables of many of the UK’s top hotels, restaurants and bars including the Ivy Restaurant Group, Gleneagles, The Waldorf Estoria, The Savoy, The Lanesborough, The Rosewood, Turnberry golf course and The Boat House at Cameron House Hotel.
The brewery’s product range is becoming increasingly available in supermarkets, readily bought from major online e-commerce customers and the export market. The dark beers, such as Old Engine Oil, Engineers Reserve and the Ola Dubh age range, are especially in high demand across Europe, China, USA, Canada and South Korea.
For more information about Harviestoun Brewery and its online shop, visit https://harviestoun.com/shop and follow on social media, including Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HarviestounBrewery, Twitter https://twitter.com/HarviestounBrew and Instagram www.instagram.com/harviestounbrewery
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Media contact:
Jonathan Perkins, Communications Director, 07894 711 515, jon@tatsecommunications.co.uk
About Harviestoun Brewery
Based at Alva, near Stirling, Harviestoun is one of Scotland’s most awarded breweries
and is a pioneering producer of nine high-quality craft beer and lagers, including its most famous award-winning beer, Schiehallion (pronounced she-hal-ion) pilsner, which is named after a well-known mountain in Perthshire:
- 2 craft lagers – Forth (4%) & Schiehallion (4.8%)
- 1 golden ale – Bitter & Twisted (4.2%)
- 2 craft stouts – Old Engine Oil (6% or 4.5% on draught) and Engineers Reserve (9%)
- 2 pale ales – The Ridge (5%) & Whippet (table beer – 2.3%)
- 1 dark ale – Wheesht (0.0%). Scotland’s first alcohol-free dark ale
- 1 barrel-aged stout – Ola Dubh (8%). Finished in ex-Highland Park whisky barrels for a minimum of 6 months. There are various age statements from the barrels – 12, 14, 16 , 18, 30 and 40 years old.
Harviestoun has been brewing in the shadow of the Ochil Hills in Clackmannanshire since 1983, so they were making craft beer in Scotland long before it became a popular trend. Still under independent ownership, it is one of Scotland’s most-awarded breweries and they consider themselves a modern craft classic.
Harviestoun’s beers are made with the soft local water and the majority of its barley is grown within eight miles of the brewery. The brewery remains steadfastly committed to the using the same local ingredients, the same yeast as they always have. They insist on the very best ingredients in their imaginative recipes which are crafted without compromise. All at Harviestoun respect and celebrate the provenance that they have inherited and are developing this special business with energy and imagination.
The Brewery is now owned by Sandy Orr and Donald MacDonald who in partnership with the Sharp family acquired Caledonian Brewery in Edinburgh in 2008. Having already been bought by Caledonian Brewery in 2006, Harviestoun was at the leading edge of the cask beer revolution in Scotland. When Caledonian was subsequently sold to Scottish & Newcastle, Sandy and Donald were determined to keep Harviestoun out of the sale transaction believing that the quality and provenance of its beers in independent hands promised a fine future in the then growing market for premium flavoursome beers. And so it has proved.
Under the same Chairmen it has had since 2008, Harviestoun is now led by Stuart Cook and Kevin Giudici as Joint Managing Directors. The executive team in 2019 have led the business to re-brand, brought out new products that are already winning awards, as well as overhauling the sales and marketing division to establish a strong platform for growth in the future.
The independent brewery employs a close team of 22 people, including a female head brewer, which is quite unique for the brewing industry, as well as a Master Brewer with well over 20 years’ experience at the brewery. The Harviestoun Brewhouse rule is that no Harviestoun beer will leave the Brewery unless Stuart Cail (Master Brewer) or Amy Cockburn (Head Brewer) are delighted with its creation and consistency.