An award-winning Highland brewery has set up a new base in Kinloss after its original site in Nairn reached production capacity.
Four jobs are being created by the WooHaa Brewing Company’s move to the Moray town, taking the two-year-old firm’s workforce to 12.
The £692,000 expansion project will enable the company to produce five times more beer than was possible at its premises at Nairn’s Balmakeith Industrial Estate to meet growing demand from new international markets.
WooHaa bought the 6.2-acre site at Upper Hempriggs, in Kinloss, and received a £133,300 grant from development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to help establish the brewery. The move will see the Nairn site close.
The company’s managing director Heather McDonald said: “We have had an amazing first two years of trading which has resulted in our need for more space and HIE has provided considerable support to allow us to achieve this move.
“It’s been hard work and we are grateful to many people who have encouraged us along the way.”
With an all-female management team, led by Ms McDonald, WooHaa started trading in 2015, with the launch of its lager and porter products. They were followed by the introduction of wheat and IPA beers.
The firm, which has secured deals to supply supermarket chains including Asda and Lidl, is looking to continue expanding its customer base across Scotland as well as increasing its international sales.
Scott McKnockiter, of HIE’s area team in Moray, said: “Plans for further expansion over the years will create more job opportunities and contribute to Moray’s economy. This exciting new brewery adds to the rich variety and high quality food and drink offering throughout the area.
“We have been closely involved with the business since its inception and we are delighted to be able to help WooHaa in its ambitious plans to expand internationally.”
HIE, which Ms McDonald, said had been “instrumental” in the brewery’s growth plans has also given the firm a grant to assist with international sales and marketing. The money is being used to adapt label designs for bottle carry packs for the global market.
During its first year in business the company travelled to New York to take part in the Taste and Trade Show, where it won a silver award for its IPA, a bronze for its porter and was named Scotland brewery of the year. More industry awards have followed during the past two years.
