Hops distributor eyes growth as it expands Woking warehouse
A £1.1 million funding package from Lloyds Bank, is helping Woking hop supplier Steiner Hops move into a new warehouse facility which it says will help boost turnover by up to 10 per cent nd create at least two new jobs.
Steiner Hops supplies more than 500 tonnes of hops each year to craft brewers and bigger breweries..
The 8,000 sq ft warehouse, at Henley Business Park in Woking, has cold storage facilities, increased space for packaging and distribution and a mezzanine office floor.
The new facilities give Steiner Hops the space and flexibility to package its products into a range of mixed varieties and pallet quantities, which is required by brewers. This will help the firm meet rising demand from its growing customer base of some 400 small and independent breweries.
It is also using the funding to launch an online web store for micro- and home breweries to acquire hops.
Russell Falconer, managing director of Steiner Hops Ltd, said: “For more than 40 years, we’ve been supplying breweries of all sizes, offering a unique range of innovative hop products designed to enhance flavour, aroma, consistency, and flexibility.
“The expansion into our new warehouse gives us the space to continue growing and providing our customers — small and large — with the very best products.
“The support we’ve received from Lloyds Bank has helped us position ourselves for growth and allowed us to take that next step in our development journey, as we expand our support to smaller breweries.”
Steiner Hops is the UK subsidiary of the Hopsteiner group, an international hops producer founded in 1845 that supplies breweries worldwide.
Geoff Smith, relationship manager at Lloyds Bank, said: “Steiner Hops plays an essential role in supporting quality British brewing, which is growing in popularity. For example, the craft beer market has added 1.9 million new customers over the last three years, according to the CGA. It’s fantastic to see the business contribute to this growth and build on its existing reputation for excellence."
