The new still will provide Kingsland and sister company Ten Lochs the ability to produce artisan spirits as it moves closer to becoming a full-service drinks company.
Kingsland Drinks Group chairman Andy Sagar said: “The partnership is a well planned and executed next step in our growth strategy and sustained investment pipeline, which in part is focused on supporting diversification and extending our services in tandem with complementary partners.”
The investment would enable both businesses to meet the growing demand for contract distilling and collaborate with partners across the on and off trade to create bespoke craft spirits. Manchester Still and Kingsland are planning a pipeline of spirits NPD, with the first from Ten Locks expected in summer 2022.
Developing UK spirits
Manchester Still chief executive and co-founder Sam Rowley-Neale added: “The partnership between the Manchester Still and Kingsland Drinks Group has the ambition of developing a truly game changing facility for the innovation, incubation, and development of Manchester/UK based spirits, that in time will garner a global reach.
“We look forward to engaging and working with the Kingsland Drinks and Ten Locks family on our joint goals and aspirations."
Kingsland’s partnership with Manchester still is the latest in a long line of investments made by the drinks manufacturer in recent years, including the installation of new canning, bag in box and carbonation manufacturing lines and the reinstation of its onsite winery.
Investments
It has also introduced a new high-speed bottling line, expanded its NPD capabilities with a new laboratory and upgraded its capacity to bottle spirits and package new and emerging formats.
Sagar continued: “The partnership realises a desire we’ve had for some time – to create world class spirits on home turf and present a true full service offering to the industry. We’re proudly creating crafts spirits shoulder to shoulder with Manchester Still.
“This is the coming together of two northern companies ready to firmly cement Greater Manchester’s growing reputation as a hive of innovation in the drinks industry.”
Meanwhile, ice cream firm Northern Bloc has signed the lease on a new 18,000 sq ft site in the heart Leeds after receiving a £1.2m investment from equity investor Gresham House Ventures.
