Supermarket deal is just the tonic

It has been a great week for Kintrye Gin and just the tonic for business in the south of Kintyre.

A major supermarket is to stock the botanical gin produced by the Beinn an Tuirc Distillers. And the news came just days after the distillery picked up two prizes at the Scottish Gin Awards.

The distillery is also planning a big expansion drive which includes the building of a new gin school and café and the opening of an offsales in Campbeltown town centre.

The supermarket chain is Morrisons, which has chosen Kintyre Botanical Gin to be sold in its west of Scotland stores as part of a programme to put more local food and drink on customers’ plates.

Morrisons customers will be able to find the gin in 31 stores from the end of the month after the distillers attended a local supplier event in Fort William in March.

Every year, Morrisons travels the length and breadth of the country with its Nation’s Local Foodmakers Events. At each event, 20 to 30 local foodmakers showcase their products to Morrisons buyers and specially selected customers. From sardines in Plymouth to pease pudding in the north-east, Morrisons has introduced hundreds of foodmakers to thousands of customers through its stores.

Beinn an Tuirc Distillers is one of the local suppliers which is now being listed in the supermarket following a successful final round meeting with Morrisons buyers at the head office in Bradford.

Angus Bell, Morrisons Scottish local sourcing manager, said: ‘Our customers tell us they want to see more food and drink produced locally in our stores and our Nation’s Local Foodmaker pro

gramme aims to do just that. Sourcing more local food and reducing the distance food travels is a priority for Morrisons so we’re delighted that Kintyre Botanical Gin is going to be stocked in some of our local stores.’

Niall Macalister Hall, from Beinn an Tuirc Distillers, said: ‘We are absolutely delighted to get this listing. We are about to commence a large expansion drive within the business, which includes the building of a new gin school and café and the opening of a second outlet, and this comes just at the right time.

‘It truly signals our intentions within the marketplace. With their commitment to work with local businesses and, among other things, their efforts to reduce plastic packaging within stores, we see Morrisons as a perfect fit with our sustainable ethos.’