Island brewer prepares to open new operation in Perth and Kinross
ARRAN Brewery has doubled its workforce in a three-month period as it prepares to open its second brewery at a site in St Fillans, Perth and Kinross.
The firm has boosted staff numbers from 15 to 30 as preparations get underway for the opening of the Loch Earn Brewery.
Arran Brewery is also planning to open a brewery in Dreghorn, North Ayrshire, for the production of Japanese rice wine sake.
“Taking on so many staff and developing on all fronts is making this a frenetic place to work,” said Arran Brewery managing director, Gerald Michaluk.
“We have three bars open at the moment and a café, with a restaurant and bistro to open shortly, this is meaning everyone in the team is working flat out.”
To fund the ongoing developments, the company launched its first round of crowd funding earlier this year. An alternative funding method which invites investors to contribute to a project, the first round of Arran Brewery’s crowd funding is said to have raised a total of £260,000.
Michaluk said that crowd funding has enabled the brewery to “invest in the staff and infrastructure we need to catch up with others in the craft brewing arena, but more investment is required and a second round of funding is likely to be needed towards the end of the year”.
“New rules for crowd-funded offers mean that investors need to pre-register and complete a short questionnaire before we can offer them shares in the next round,” he said.
“Given the development and increase in potential, new shares will be likely to be offered at a premium over the first round share price.”
