Harviestoun Brewery has reported a record 2,000% increase in online beer and lager sales since launching its next-day home delivery service during lockdown.
Stu Cook and Kevin Giudici, joint managing directors at Harviestoun Brewery, with its most famous award-winning beer, Schiehallion. Photograph: Chris Watt
With bars and restaurants across Scotland forced to close during lockdown, Harviestoun’s established online business boomed as beer lovers were driven online to get their brews delivered direct to their doorstep. But this new trend is showing no signs of slowing down.
Harviestoun now offers a next day delivery service to anywhere in the UK, if ordered online before 1pm, including its most famous award-winning beer, Schiehallion Pilsner, which is named after a well-known mountain in Perthshire.
Schiehallion is unique among British beers, being the only current brand to win the coveted world’s best Pilsner award. It has also been the best seller in its many formats, from fridge pack cans and 500ml bottles to a new five-litre mini-keg.
Stuart Cook, managing director at Harviestoun Brewery, said: “The coronavirus pandemic has substantially changed the way we all shop. We were hopeful the Harviestoun reputation would count for a lot amongst beer drinkers who hadn’t been able to get out for a pint in their local during lockdown, and we have been blown away by the response to our ‘beer to your doorstep’ service.”
Harviestoun has also launched a business-to-business trade delivery service as direct-to-consumer sales continue to grow. Like so many businesses, Harviestoun has been hugely affected by the closure of the on-trade during the pandemic and had to completely rethink its business.
Stuart said: “In these tough times for the industry, getting beer fresh from our brewery direct to the trade is critical as a support mechanism. We believe that by using our same next day direct-to-customer delivery partners or our own van fleet, we have the right option for everyone.”
Harviestoun beers now grace the tables of many of the UK’s top hotels, restaurants and bars including the Ivy Restaurant Group, Gleneagles, The Waldorf Estoria, The Savoy, The Lanesborough, The Rosewood, and Turnberry golf course.
The brewery’s product range is becoming increasingly available in supermarkets, readily bought from major online e-commerce customers and the export market. The dark beers, such as Old Engine Oil, Engineers Reserve and the Ola Dubh age range, are especially in high demand across Europe, China, USA, Canada and South Korea.
