Hillstown Brewery says ‘cheers’ to Tesco

Posted on June 20, 2017June 20, 2017

Northern Irish Craft Beer Company Secures £90k Listing with Tesco NI

The Antrim based drinks company, Hillstown Brewery, has secured a listing with Tesco Northern Ireland that will see the leading retailer stock an extended range of its handcrafted beer in stores across the province, with sales of more than £90K forecasted for the first year.

Based in Randalstown, Hillstown Brewery is a small-scale microbrewery that produces handcrafted, unique beer direct from the farm.  On the back of the new listing with Tesco NI, Hillstown Brewery has invested in a larger brewing system to keep up with the demand of its expanded consumer base.

Starting with an unusual introduction to the world of craft brewing, the food and drinks company started with the intention to brew beer to feed cattle in order to produce Wagyu beef; however the demand for its beer resulted in Hillstown Brewery making the finest craft beer for humans too.

The new listing with Tesco NI means that the retailer will now stock the full range of Hillstown Beers. The brand’s uniquely named Massey Red Ale, The Drunken Donkey Lager, and The Squealing Pig IPA will join The Spitting Llama Belgian Ale, The Goats Butt Wheat Beer and The Horny Bull Stout on Tesco shelves across Northern Ireland.

Jonathan McWhinney ‎Packaged Food Buying Manager, Tesco Northern Ireland, said “The Northern Irish craft beer culture continues to grow and, in support of that, Tesco now stocks over 30 local beers, ales and stout on its shelves in Northern Ireland. We find that our customers are increasingly willing to buy premium beers, especially if they are from local Northern Irish brands. We are delighted to stock these additional lines from Hillstown Brewery and expand our relationship with them, as they give our shoppers more flavours to choose from – while furthering our commitment to supporting local food and drink.”

The iconic Northern Irish beers from Hillstown Brewery are available from selected Tesco stores across Northern Ireland.

Tesco spends almost £590 million on Northern Irish products each year. It has over 1,200 local product lines on its shelves produced over by 90 suppliers and 6,000 farmers.  For more information on local Northern Irish food and recipes, visit www.tasteni.com, Tesco Northern Ireland’s new online magazine that celebrates local food and drink.