Funding helps brewery tap into growth

A West Yorkshire craft brewery is tapping into new opportunities after securing £300,000 in investment to expand operations and grow sales at home and overseas.

Amity Brew Co, founded during the Covid lockdown in 2020 by brewing specialists Rich Degnan and Russ Clarke, has received two £150,000 investments from Finance Yorkshire and now employs more than a dozen people, with head of communications Verity Clarke also serving as a director.

The first supported the relocation of its brewing operations to Albion Mills in Greengates, Bradford, last year, while the second funded the refurbishment of its Farsley taproom in Leeds.

The improvements include the launch of La Grassa, an Italian-American diner created by Stuzzi Leeds founders Jimbob Phillips and Brett Lee.

Amity, which generates around £100,000 in monthly sales, predominantly through its taproom, also supplies bottle shops, bars and restaurants and exports to Europe and Japan.

The brewery has also secured SALSA food safety accreditation, opening opportunities to supply larger pub groups, strengthen its presence in the wholesale market and increase business-to-business sales.

Further investment has seen an additional brewing tank installed at its Bradford site, where successful events have prompted the company to explore plans for a second pub after securing a taproom licence.

Verity said: “Finance Yorkshire’s second investment has enabled us to expand into the space at Farsley which was the brewery and double our covers to 80 and increase capacity. 

“The Salsa accreditation has been a highlight this year because of the opportunities it gives us to get in front of larger pub and restaurant groups.”

Finance Yorkshire expects its total investments to reach £50 million by 2027, supporting further business growth across the region.

Alex McWhirter, chief executive of Finance Yorkshire, added: “Amity Brew Co’s ambition and drive to innovate has seen the business negotiate the challenges of operating a small business in the competitive craft brewing sector. 

“We are pleased to support the Amity team’s expansion at its original Farsley site and are delighted to see how our first investment has enabled the brewery at Greengates to go from strength to strength.”

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