UK craft beer in export push

British craft beer body the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) is launching an “export club” to help its members grow their brands across the world.

SIBA is offering support to small brewers looking to grow outside the UK (Photo: SIBA)

The “club” aims to open more doors for independent breweries in the UK to sell their wares worldwide.

SIBA, which represents more than 800 independent British breweries, is offering members five different areas of support, including working with UK Trade and Investment on promoting export activities.

Important administrative support is also being offered by SIBA, including Excise Movement and Control System management.

The brewers’ association is also offering to purchase any beer brand from member brewers and sell to export customers on a commercial basis. “SIBA is not seeking to replace existing UK based exporting sales companies, but to provide initial or additional commercial opportunities”, the body said.

Furthermore, SIBA is prepared to co-ordinate the administration of “export missions” whereby specific SIBA members will be attending and marketing their own beer brands.

Finally, SIBA will be participating in UK Trade and Investment export missions and attending foreign embassies and events to promote British beer generically and use members’ beers at exhibitions.

SIBA managing director Mike Benner said that with tight competition in the UK, independent brewers’ best option would be to look beyond Britain for potential growth.

“With so much competition in the UK beer industry for space on the bar or on the retailers’ shelves, it is important that SIBA develops opportunities in the export market for its members,” he said.

“The export market can be a real challenge for smaller brewers and SIBA has created the export club to inform, advise and open more doors around the world for our members to promote their fantastic beers.”