Innis & Gunn expansion at Perth brewer

Craft beer company took over former Inveralmond Brewery in Perth and aims to double turnover by next year

Since its foundation in 2003, Innis & Gunn has grown to be the No 2 craft brewer in the UK off-trade and one of the UK’s most successful International craft beer businesses.

In the past two years, Innis & Gunn has opened four Beer Kitchens in Scotland and acquired the Inveralmond Brewery in Perth, establishing the Innis & Gunn Brewery.

The brewery in Perth is where largest shareholder and master brewer Dougal Gunn Sharp and his team develop the beers loved by craft beer fans in more than 28 countries.

In 2016, Innis & Gunn sold more than 27 million bottles of beer around the world and has recently launched American and Sessions IPAs, and a successful limitededition programme of barrel-aged beers.

It also recently reported a 22% increase in its annual group turnover to more than £14.3 million in 2016.

This was the 13th consecutive year of volume growth, with volume over the past five years increasing by 175%, including sales of the Inveralmond Brewery brands.

This month the company accepted an offer of investment from L Catterton, the largest consumer-focused private equity firm in the world.

This has given L Catterton a 27.9% stake in the business, with Dougal Gunn Sharp remaining at the helm.

The capital and unparalleled expertise in building consumer goods brands that L Catterton bring to the business will accelerate the growth of Innis & Gunn, which aims to double its turnover by 2018.

Dougal Gunn Sharp said: “The craft beer category is booming globally, and this is an exciting opportunity for us to build on the solid foundations that have been laid to grow our business, which includes trebling capacity at our brewery in Perth and expansion of the Beer Kitchens.

“Innovation and quality have been at the heart of Innis & Gunn’s success since day one, and this continues to drive the business and team forward.”