A Staffordshire firm known for its beers is building on its success during the Covid pandemic to invest in new spirit bottling machinery and revamp its brewing operations.
As well as having its own range of ales, Staffordshire Brewery also does contract brewing, distilling and packaging and sells consumables, dealing with around 300 other breweries across the country.
The soaring demand for bottled beer from home drinkers during lockdowns saw the Cheddleton company’s turnover jump up by 30 per cent.
Staffordshire Brewery has now invested £200,000 into a new spirit bottling machine which will allow them to increase the volume of spirits they can bottle for customers.
Consultants have also been brought in to rebrand the brewery, tweak current recipes and help develop new products. There are also ambitions of expanding the beer bottling line and moving into the kegged beer market.
Managing Director Adrian Corke said: “The lockdown kept us busy and brought in a massive wave of work.
“Whilst we’re firefighting costs like most businesses at the moment, we buy in bulk as much as we can so that we can keep price increases to the brands we deal with low.”
As well as increased energy prices, the industry has seen a jump of 15 per cent in the cost of glass used for beer bottles.
Adrian pre-empted the hike and purchased a million bottles before the company was hit with the price increase.
The company, which employs 16 people, started off in a garden shed 20 years ago and now has a turnover of around £3 million a year.
Adrian added: “Our new machine will allow us to speed things up so that we can take on bigger jobs.
“This initially won’t create any more jobs at present but will lead us into a new market.”
