Drinks export business big in Japan after new contracts

● Latest deals lead to sales boost of almost £100,000 ● Growing import network will lead to further business

A firm that specialises in the export of Scottish craft beers and spirits is celebrating after signing several deals with Japanese importers while growing the number of brewers and distillers that it works with.

JW Filshill International, which trades as the Craft Beer Clan, said the number of distillers it was working with had doubled as it continues to generate new business overseas, particularly in the Far East.

Director Chris Miller said recent deals to export to Japan had included craft distillers such as Pickering’s Gin, Orkney Distillers, Glasgow Distillery, Strathearn and Mcqueen’s, as well as brewers Williams Brothers, West Beer and the firm’s own Clan Brewing Co.

The company is now working with more than 40 craft brewers and a similar number of distillers from across Scotland.

Miller described the recent deals in Japan as a “major coup”, and followed a smaller agreement with Japanese distributors last year. He added that JW Filshill International had appointed four import partners and had now successfully enabled export of 20 craft distillers to Japan, with a total of 35 new products now on sale generating sales of almost £100,000.

Miller said: “That’s £100,000 of business that didn’t exist last year. And now that we have our foot in the door we’re confident this figure will grow considerably through our import network in market.

“We have also appointed an agent, a former Diageo executive, for this region.”

He added: “We’re exporting craft beer regularly to the Middle East, to mainland China, including Hong Kong, and to South Korea. We’re now able to offer those contacts an increased portfolio of high quality craft beers and spirits, benefiting everyone, from the consumer to the brewer and distiller.

“Scotland has a great many outstanding craft brewers and craft distillers who make some fantastic products, beautifully packaged, beautifully marketed. What we do at JW Filshill International is give these world-class brewers and distillers a route to market where they lack resources in time, financial, contacts or administration in place.”

Earlier this year, Miller and fellow Craft Beer Clan director Simon Hannah, who is also managing director of parent company JW Filshill, were in Dubai as part of a trade visit in partnership with Scottish Development International and trade association Scotland Food and Drink.

They then travelled to the Foodex show in Japan where they initiated several supply deals on behalf of Scottish craft distillers.

Miller added: “In the past year there has been strong growth in the craft sector. Key to the success of the Craft Beer Clan has been the collaborative approach we’ve all taken.”