The growing demand for local products and the surge in craft beer sales has led to Lincolnshire Co-op introducing two of Axholme Brewing Company’s bottled beers to its stores.
Best Bitter and Cleethorpes Pale Ale will be available in some 80 Lincolnshire Co-op stores from this month.
Both highly-rated bottled beers will form part of the growing Love Local range, which is available in all the food stores. The range features high-quality products made in Lincolnshire.
The 3.8% ABV Best Bitter is described as a “traditional English bitter packed full of bittering and aroma hops” and has been part of the brewery’s core range since its foundation in 2012. Cleethorpes Pale Ale was the beer that really put the brewery on the map, both locally and nationally, and it is now the firm’s best-ever selling beer. The easy drinking pale ale is made with sea buckthorn, which gives a sweet undertone to the refreshing brew.
Head brewer, Mike Richards, said: “Like us, Lincs Co-op love local. I have always tried to use locally-sourced ingredients in the beers I brew, and as a company we always look to work with local suppliers.
“We are very proud to be part of their fantastic Love Local range and we look forward to seeing our beers in their stores. It’s another exciting step forward for the business in what has already been a very busy year for us as we continue to grow.”
Lincolnshire Co-op deputy supply chain manager, Judy Lyon, said: “The Love Local range is our way of raising a glass to food and drink producers around our trading area. We’re proud to stock a variety of products in the range, all made by producers in our area, from Lincolnshire eggs, cheeses and meat products to ice cream, beers and gingerbread.
“These hearty brews by Axholme Brewing Company are a fantastic addition and will be stocked in the majority of Lincolnshire Co-op food stores from October, so shoppers can easily ‘hop’ in for a bottle or two.”
The beer will be distributed by Ideal Lincs Ltd from its base near Market Rasen. Procurement and logistics manager, Lisa Garbutt, said: “One of the most important things when launching new products into stores is how it looks on the shelf. These bottles look fantastic and will certainly jump off the shelf.”
