West Berkshire Brewery has launched a £1.5m crowdfunding campaign which values the company at £7m.
The brewery, which is chaired by industry veteran David Bruce, is raising £4m in total – made up of another Enterprise Investment Scheme and asset match as well as the Seedrs campaigm.
The company will use the proceeds to build a larger brewery, acquire a flagship pub and launch a new range of craft beers under its Renegade Brewery label, which will sit alongside its traditional range of fine English ales.
Bruce said: “In the past two years this business has gone ballistic with its expansion: last year sales grew 23%; they are up 19% this year already. So we are motoring. But we remain very ambitious and feel like we’re just getting started, and we have this great opportunity to build on our success and momentum.
“However, to do that we need to move the brewery to a bigger home and invest in some other landmark initiatives that will help create a much bigger business and fuel our growth. And so we are inviting all like-minded people who wish to share this experience to join us.”
The company has identified a new brewery site close to its current location in the village of Yattendon, Berkshire. The new site will deliver a brewery with 10 times the brewing capacity of WBB’s existing facility as well as a bottling, canning and kegging line, plus a visitor centre and on-site restaurant.
The Seedrs campaign is set to run for 60 days. Shares will be priced at £3 per share, with a minimum purchase of five shares (equating to a minimum spend of £15).
Founded by Dave and Helen Maggs in 1995, the business has annual sales of approximately £2m.
