Following a round of crowd-sourced funding, Arran Brewery has reported that it has doubled its workforce from 15 to 30. The company has also said it is “well on the way” to opening a second brewery in St Fillans at the East end of Loch Earn.
The brewery is preparing to enter international markets and is planning Scotland’s first Sake Brewery in Dreghorn, North Ayrshire.
Managing Director Gerald Michaluk said: “Taking on so many staff and developing on all fronts is making this a frenetic place to work. 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. The crowd funding has meant we are able 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”.
Michaluk explained that new rules for Crowd Funded offers meant that investors were required to pre-register and complete a short questionnaire before being offered them shares in the next round. He added: “Given the development and increase in potential new shares will be likely to be offered at a premium over the first round share price”.
Arran Brewery plc raised a total of £260,000 in its first round of funding and has retained its target of achieving £4m in total. The process of Crown Funding takes several rounds to reach enough investors and with a successful first round behind them Arran Brewery is following in the foot steps of other Scottish Brewers in forging ahead in the Craft Beer market through the mechanism Crown Funding.
