Yorkshire's Black Sheep Brewery is set to benefit from £2m of investment into its Masham site.
Owner Keystone Brewing Group is making a series of upgrades, including a 30,000 hectolitre increase in annual fermentation capacity at its brewery; a high volume canning facility that will boost output from 2,500 to 14,000 cans per house; a pasteurisation facility; two new storage facilities at its Fearby Road packaging facility and new delivery vehicles.
The investment is being funded by Keystone shareholder BREAL which says the move will help meet increasing export and in the on and off-trade. It also says the expansion will create broader stock keeping units across its portfolio. It follows a period of rapid expansion for Keystone, which has recently acquired a host of well known brands including Hofmeister, North, Four Pure and Magic Rock.
Steve Cox, CEO of Keystone Brewing Group, said: “This investment marks a further major milestone for Keystone as we continue to scale. With new breweries and brands joining the group and demand rising, it gives us the agility and infrastructure to expand capacity while staying true to the quality and character of each of the brands. We’re well-equipped to grow in a way that’s both ambitious and sustainable.”
Mark Williams, partner and shareholder at BREAL Group, added: “This amplifies the confidence that we have in Keystone Brewing Group, and indeed this sector for the long term. It is tough out there at the minute, but we continue to believe that there is a real appetite for premium, value for money beers and ciders. Not only is Keystone on track to reach its revenue target of £100m by 2028, but it remains steadfast in its mission to deliver exceptional quality, variety and innovation to consumers both in the Ƶ and worldwide while embracing new possibilities.”
“Watch out for some more of those possibilities in the coming months.”
