Sevenpercentof microbreweries foundinWicklow

SEVEN per cent of Ireland’s microbreweries are located in Co Wicklow according to a new report produced by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI).

The report, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Drinks Industry, was completed by DCU economist Tony Foley and found that drinks businesses were growing rapidly in rural Ireland, with over 90 per cent of the country’s microbreweries located outside of Dublin. Every county in the Republic of Ireland has at least one brewery, with the exception of Westmeath.

The Irish drinks industry is Ireland’s fastest-growing manufacturing industry in terms of number of enterprises. Whereas the number of enterprises in the overall manufacturing sector has increased by less than a percent since 2008, the number of drinks industry enterprises has grown by 105 percent.

In fact, the number of Irish breweries producing their own product has more than quadrupled since 2012, from 15 to 72.

In the period from 2012 to 2016, microbrewery turnover increased from €8 million to €52 million.

‘ The drinks and hospitality industry is one of Ireland’s bedrock industries,’ said Donall O’Keeffe, Secretary of DIGI and CEO of the Licenced Vintners Association.

‘In rural Ireland in particular, where less developed infrastructure inhibits the creation of high-tech jobs, the drinks industry has provided a way for smaller communities to support economic activity, innovation and entrepreneurship.

‘If the drinks industry is to flourish into the future, it needs as few barriers to trade as possible. Right now, our own excise tax is a barrier,’ he said.

The report also found that many breweries and distilleries are developing visitor centre facilities, increasing product awareness among local and international consumers, and opening up additional revenue streams.