Year-End accounts show turnover up 62% with international sales flying high for the UK’s leading independent, specialty brewer Innis & Gunn: YoY turnover for 2011 leapt 62% to £7.5m.
Increased growth across all markets has contributed to the brand’s success, driven by a structured, market-specific NPD programme and the introduction of Rum Cask as part of the core range overseas, and Original on draught in the UK.
International trade
International trade remained the brewer’s primary revenue stream at £5.7m by value – 77% of turnover. And, while Canada was still the largest international market, the USA was the main growth catalyst, propelling Innis & Gunn’s export business by surging 178% in volume.
In a country where the craft beer segment now represents nearly 6% of the market by volume and 9.1% by value (source: Brewers Association 2011), Innis & Gunn’s rapid growth trajectory has continued to accelerate into 2012, with YTD figures to end August 2012 up 30% on the same period in 2011.
Commenting on the results, Dougal Sharp, CEO of Innis & Gunn, said:
“We have built the right infrastructure around us to deal with the challenges inherent with importing to and trading in the States. Over the last year, we have strengthened our sales force and established good relationships with our first-tier distributors to make sure Innis & Gunn is a key player in their brands’ portfolio.”
Since its formation in January 2010, Innis & Gunn USA, Inc., led by Managing Director Dan Deluca, has recruited seven Business Development Managers and secured distribution in 20 states, mainly East Coast but also Las Vegas, where the beer was listed earlier this year in Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant on the Strip.
Home trade
Closer to home, Innis & Gunn experienced 33% volume growth and 38% value growth in 2011 driven by a strong performance across the core range. Crawford Sinclair, UK Director of Sales, said:
“The launch of Original Draught at the start of the year combined with strong packaged sales saw our on-trade business almost double in size. This expansion, combined with consistent growth in the off-trade puts Innis & Gunn in a very strong position as we are able to meet the needs of the trade and the consumer going forward.”
Ranked number four* in sales volume and value in the specialty beer category in the UK off-trade, behind imports Leffe and Hoegaarden, Innis & Gunn has enjoyed average growth of 30% YoY since the MBO in 2008. It is the best-selling British bottled beer in Canada, and number two bottled import ale in Sweden.
Innis & Gunn has three core products in its range: Original, Blonde and Rum Cask, as well as many seasonal and Limited Edition beers. It is available in seven countries globally (UK, US, Canada, Sweden, Ireland, Finland and Norway).