Brewers toast Aldi deal success

SCOTTISH micro-breweries have raised a glass to the ­success of the first “beer festival” held by German discount supermarket chain Aldi.

The retailer ordered £70,000-worth of stock from 27 breweries, including 17 that were new to its shelves.

Nearly 75 per cent of the beers were sold in the first four weeks of the festival, which began at the start of November.

The most popular lines were Santa’s Swallie from ­Inveralmond Brewery, Innis & Gunn’s rum cask, Colonsay’s 80/- and Old Engine Oil from Harviestoun Brewery.

The short-term supply deal with Aldi marked the first step into the supermarket trade for breweries such as Colonsay, Tryst and Kelburn.

Richard Holloway, Scottish managing director at Aldi, said: “Aldi’s first Scottish beer festival has been a resounding success. We know that craft beer is experiencing a revival at the moment, and our customers’ reaction to the festival is testament to the popularity of these products. Aldi is proud to be supporting 17 top independent breweries. Following the success of the inaugural festival, we’ll be looking to repeat this activity at some point in the year ahead.”

News of the festival’s success comes just weeks after Scotland on Sunday revealed Aldi will expand in Scotland next year, opening six stores to take its total north of the Border to 50. Towns on its hit list are East Kilbride, Falkirk, Inverness, Leven, Motherwell and Paisley.