Bermondsey-based Fourpure Brewing Co has announced a £2m cash injection to support the craft brewer’s growth plans, which will see its production capacity increase by 400% to 14 million pints a year.
Set up in 2013, the brewery has invested heavily to become a state-of-the-art brewing, packaging and distribution business, which has now expanded into a fifth warehouse on Bermondsey Trading Estate, covering a total of 25,000 square feet.
Dan Lowe, co-founder of Fourpure said, “No one would argue that we’re lacking in affordable housing, but once London is wall-to-wall with blocks of flats, where are all the people going to work?
“When demand for our products was outstripped by supply, it would have been easy to find large, cheaper premises outside of London. However, London is our heartland and is integral to our brand, so we are determined to grow into the city we love, rather than move out of it. This latest investment will allow us to quadruple our production and stay true to our brand heritage.”
The award-winning brewery has been a pioneer and an innovator in the craft beer sector, and was the first brewery to can its entire core range of beers. 2016 saw it spend £1.4 million on the installation of world class canning and packing line.
This summer sees an even larger £2m investment, installing a four-vessel Craft-Star brewing system from GEA.
Best in class
The brewhouse is best in class for automation and beer quality, and with the the Craft-Star brewing system being the first of its kind to hit the UK, Fourpure is placed at the forefront of the increasingly demanding industry.
In addition to production capabilities, the kit also supports Fourpure’s long-standing commitment to sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of brewing beer by deploying outstanding credentials from water use and energy saving to heat recovery and vapour condensing.
The investment also includes the purchase of some additional ‘toys’, including an upgraded centrifuge, a carbonation module, some indoor/outdoor chillers, malt and spent grain silos and 12 200hl fermentation tanks. All of this equipment will be installed over the summer and will be producing beer by September.
The brewery is not just focused on its brewing and packaging capabilities. There is a real drive to optimise process and practices across the business. Investment in a beer sensory training programme (along with broader business practice) saw Fourure pick up the award for the UK’s most innovative and best brewery business at this year’s SIBA awards.
The expansion of the new brewery will also see an extension to the existing hospitality space, providing a modern, inviting tap room where customers can try an ever-changing range of beers from 16 taps and celebrate the brewery’s continued success.
