19 March 2015
A £5,000 Velocity grant has allowed a Milton Keynes micro-brewery to move into canning production, opening up a huge new market which will help grow their business.
Dan Bonner from Concrete Cow Brewery in Alston Drive, is hoping the technology will allow his beer to reach the lucrative festival market and take his firm to the next level.
The entrepreneur set up the brewery in 2007 after experimenting with a number of home brew kits and is now hoping to hit the big time with his latest brew, MK IPA.
He said: “It was an impulsive decision to set up the brewery and I have learnt so much along the way. It has been a real adventure and one which I have thoroughly enjoyed.
“Those early days were tough and there were some challenging times along the way but the future is looking great and I’m really excited about the next phase of the business.
“Velocity has helped enormously and we have received valuable advice and support along the way from Emmanuelle, our business adviser.
“We were able to get a grant to help with the cost of the canning machine which will make a huge difference to the business. Previously we have only sold to trade or in bottles but having beer in 330ml cans will open up an entire new audience for us.”
Concrete Cow beers are currently available in pubs, farm shops, garden centres and delis across the Milton Keynes area. They are also sold in some of the city’s main leisure venues, including Stadium:MK and the Planet Ice Arena.
Dan currently produces one 800 litre brew every week and is hoping to increase that by 50 per cent over the coming months, taking on extra staff to cope with the demand.
He said: “The next few months are going to be really exciting, with the business taking a big step forward. I’m extremely grateful for all the help and support we have received from Velocity and I wouldn’t hesitate recommending them to anyone.”
The Velocity Growth Grant is available to help SMEs in the South East Midlands grow by implementing business development and growth projects which will create or safeguard jobs and increase sales, productivity or profitability.
Velocity Business Support and its qualified and experienced Business Advisers are available to help businesses in a number of ways, through one-to-one support, grants and free business workshops.
Our Advisers are widely connected to national and regional government organisations as well as the private sector, and are able to signpost businesses to sources of grant funding or make personal introductions to individuals or organisations that add value to businesses.
To find out more about how Velocity could help you, call 0300 01234 35, visit www.VelocityBusinessSupport.com or follow us on Twitter @VelocityGrowth.
Keep up to date with the latest news on the Concrete Cow brewery on Twitter by following @concretecowbeer
