BrewDog hails 'epic' year with profit up 69%
The company, which topped the AlixPartners Profit Tracker for the second time in three years, saw profit during the year increase by 69% to £4.9m.
During the year, the group launched a total of 12 new bars, taking its global bar count to 26. In addition to launching six new UK bars in Liverpool, Cardiff, Dundee, Sheffield, Clapham Junction and Ellon, the brewery also launched six international bars last year, including Tokyo, São Paulo, Gothenburg, Florence, Bologna and Helsinki.
Since the year, end, the company has launched its first bar in Spain, with BrewDog Barcelona, with more bars launches planned in the UK and overseas, including openings in Brighton, Norwich, Leicester, Berlin and Rome.
The group now exports to 55 countries around the world and employs 360 people.
Last year, BrewDog expanded its brewery in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, adding new fermentation capacity, building new office buildings and its on-site bar, DogTap.
The company also opened its first craft beer bottle shop, BottleDog, last April in London’s Kings Cross area.
During the year, BrewDog said it provided financial support and mentoring to London-based Brew by Numbers and CAP brewery from Stockholm, and will assist more breweries in 2015 as part of the initiative.
It also become a Living Wage Employer in 2014 making an unprecedented commitment to the wellbeing of its UK employees by guaranteeing to pay at least the living wage calculated for their location.
It recently launched its new import and distribution arm in January following an exclusive deal agreed with Stone Brewing Co.
James Watt, co-founder of BrewDog, said: “2014 was an epic year for BrewDog and the craft beer industry as a whole. Not only did we continue to grow at breakneck speed and secure more footholds of craft beer awesomeness all around the world, but we were able to improve processes and efficiencies to ensure we deliver the optimum flavour experience every time.”
“Our growth has shown that with a healthy disregard for the impossible you can achieve anything. When we launched in 2007, we never expected to be where we are today, but our success continues to prove that there is an insatiable thirst for great craft beer, and a huge opportunity for businesses doing things differently to thrive in challenging economic times.
“Our mission has always been to make other people as passionate about great craft beer as we are. The more people making, serving and drinking amazing craft beer, the better. The BrewDog Development Fund is about putting our money where our mouth is and helping new breweries thrive.”
“BrewDog is committed to being the best employer. Ever. The living wage is one of many initiatives we are implementing to ensure the passion and dedication of our awesome team is always rewarded.”
“We have done well so far, but we are just getting warmed up. For 2015 we have mammoth plans that will really set the world alight. You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
