Whisky specialist Gordon and MacPhail (G&M) has ensured it has the capacity to step up production of its flagship single malt to meet growing demand from international and UK customers.
The Moray company’s managing director, Ewen Mackintosh, said it expects to make use of its ability to increase annual alcohol output at the Benromach Distillery, in Forres, by around 80,000 gallons “over the next couple of years”.
Mr Mackintosh was speaking as Speymalt Whisky Distributors Limited, which trades as Gordon and MacPhail, announced “strong” figures for its financial year to the end of January, showing overall turnover up 10.8% to £28.3million, compared to the previous 12 months. Pre-tax profits at the Elgin-based firm remained steady for the third year running at £4million.
G&M’s international trade grew by 11.8% year-on-year in 2016 to £8.9million, with UK sales increasing by 10.4% to £19.4million. With a 27% increase in sales, the Benromach brand was the star performer for the company, which employs around 156 people. Mr Mackintosh said: “We have been experiencing double-digit growth every year in sales of Benromach, which strongly validates the company’s decision in the 1990s to buy its own distillery. Overseas sales of Benromach have been particularly strong and a number of Gordon and MacPhail brands have also performed well.”
This year G&M upped Benromach’s annual production capacity from around 53,000 gallons to 85,000 gallons, installing infrastructure that allows for further increases.
