Major Expansion at Caithness Distillery
8th March 2017
A Caithness distillery has embarked on a major expansion that will boost its turnover and international sales and create at least one new job.
Dunnet Bay Distillery (DBDL) has secured a £64,000 contribution from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) towards the £248,000 development.
The micro distillery was established in 2014 by Martin and Claire Murray and is the most northern distillery on mainland Britain. It produces Rock Rose Gin and Holy Grass Vodka. This is hand distilled and crafted using a blend of traditional and local botanicals to promote the heritage and provenance of the Highlands.
The company has grown rapidly and now employs 12 people. It needs to expand to meet increasing demand for its products as well as rising visitor numbers using the North Coast 500 route.
The extension will enable DBDL to install another still for increased production flow. It also includes a new warehouse to expand storage facilities and a visitor centre to welcome more people and enhance the visitor experience.
Laura Gunn, business account manager with HIE, said:
"Dunnet Bay Distillers is a dynamic and ambitious company that uses the Highland environment to produce and market their products. We welcome their plans for expansion. It will increase production, add to the area's tourist offering and help secure valuable local jobs.
"In a wider sense it also contributes to community resilience, strengthening security of a significant number of local jobs. The development complements the aims of the Caithness and Sutherland Regeneration Partnership in helping to diversify the local economy away from dependence on Dounreay. I am pleased we are able to support the plans and look forward to seeing them come to fruition."
Martin Murray of Dunnet Bay Distillers, said: "We are proud that in the past two years we have established a strong brand and business from our home in Dunnet.
"At present our business growth has been constrained by production bottle necks and not a lack of demand. This demand comes from overseas and also from our door step, thanks to a significant increase in numbers of visitors from the North Coast 500. The support from HIE allows us to capitalise on these growth areas, so that our products from Caithness can go further around the world on their travels. It also allows us to build a home for our product here in Dunnet, with a visitor centre and shop that will hopefully attract more visitors to the area."
Photo: Laur Gunn of HIE (left) with Martin and Claire Murray of Dunnet Bay Distillers. Credit Mike Brooks Roper/HIE
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Shell-volution is an ambitious industry-wide initiative supported by the public sector and the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) which has been awarded £4.4 million of investment from the UK Government as part of the Islands Growth Deal. This innovative, ground-breaking project is set to transform shellfish aquaculture, bringing sustainable growth and additional quality jobs in mussel farming, based on detailed investigations (mapping and monitoring) and creating a model for improving security and reliability of wild spat recruitment, through industry best practice.
A Nairn-based foundry, which has achieved international recognition for its larger-than-life bronze castings has invested in a £200,000 expansion to help it reach greater heights. An award of £60,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has helped Black Isle Bronze to improve infrastructure and purchase equipment to extend the range of projects the firm can undertake.
Young businesses and social enterprises in the Highlands and Islands looking to increase productivity, innovation and employment can apply for funding from HIE. The fourth round of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Young Business Capital Grant (YBCG) is now open to businesses that have been trading for less than five years with up to 250 full-time equivalent employees.
Ambitious young businesspeople in the Highlands and Islands have just one more chance to benefit from a tailored support programme. IMPACT30 was launched by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in 2018 to help nurture and empower the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The winners of the Highlands and Islands Food & Drink Awards (HIFAD) 2024 were announced on Friday 1 November at a prestigious ceremony at the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness. Supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), the awards celebrate the talent, quality and diversity across food, drink and hospitality in the Highlands and Islands.
A family run engineering fabrication firm in Caithness is investing in a project to improve productivity, grow business turnover and create new jobs. Gow's Lybster Limited has been working with development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) over several years to develop its growth plans.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will return to Norway to host the Scottish Pavilion at Aqua Nor 2025. The Scottish aquaculture supply chain is invited to register their interest to exhibit as part of the pavilion or join the wider Scottish delegation.
A young engineer working on Britain's deepest nuclear clean-up project has been recognised by the Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE). Liam Gordon (27) won the Young Chemical Engineer of the Year award at the annual showcase event of the Aberdeen branch of IChemE, the professional body for chemical engineers in the UK.
Food and Drink TechHUB will provide financial and advice support to help businesses, including social and community enterprises, with commercial growth and net zero transition activities. Small to medium sized enterprises in the Highland Council area that operate in the food and drink sector and its supply chain are expected to benefit from a new programme of support launched his week.
Businesses and social enterprises in the Highlands and Islands looking to reduce the environmental impacts of their operations can now apply to a new Green Grant Fund launched on Thursday 26 September 2024. The three-year £2.7m fund was developed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
