Brú Brewery expects to supply SuperValu with €200,000 worth of beer over the next year after agreeing an exclusive deal for the supply for the microbrewery’s new gluten free lager.
Brú Brewery co-founder David O’Hare said: “We are delighted that our partnership with SuperValu continues to grow. SuperValu is the biggest supporter of the Irish craft beer market amongst the grocery retailer and their support is enabling us and other microbreweries to thrive.”
Brú Brewery was founded in 2013 with two staff and now employs eight people. The brewery recently won three awards at the World Beer Awards 2015. Its gluten free lager won a gold medal, its red ale won a silver medal and its IPA took a bronze medal.
Brú has been trading with SuperValu since September 2013, and has doubled the volume of cases it supplies each year.
Martin Kelleher, SuperValu managing director, said: “We’re delighted to support this emerging sector and help Irish microbreweries grow, particularly as we are able to offer them the opportunity to supply to individual stores given our local ownership structure.”
The Irish craft beer craze continues to grow, with 400 new beers launched in Ireland in the past year. SuperValu claims a 20% retail share of the Irish craft beer market and has experienced a 66% year on year increase in sales of craft ales.