Aldi launches 16 craft beers in bid to cash in on £100m artisan ales market
Award-winning discount supermarket chain Aldi is looking to shake-up the booming craft beer market by launching its own range of locally brewed ales.
It has introduced 16 artisan beers from some of the UK’s leading small breweries as it seeks to grab a slice of the £100 million craft beer market.
Examples include Badger England’s Own – with a hint of elderflower – Wells Waggledance, which has honey aromas, and Great Corby Session IPA, featuring notes of grapefruit. The 16 craft beers will each priced at £1.29.
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“The craft beer market is going from strength to strength and at Aldi our aim is to be innovative, meeting the needs of our customers and attracting new shoppers into store by developing new ranges in line with key trends,” said Tony Baines, Aldi’s joint managing director of corporate buying.
“We have built on our existing relationships as well as met with a number of new breweries to develop this range, and our goal is to help UK breweries expand and get into the hands of new customers.”
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Craft beer sales in the UK have risen 87% over the past few years, according to analysts Nielsen.
The Aldi range also includes the Sussex Traditional Pale Ale from the renowned Hepworth Brewery in West Sussex.
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Andy Hepworth, managing director and head brewer at Hepworth, said: “We have been brewing as an independent brewery since 2000, with the intention of reviving Horsham’s centuries-old brewing tradition.
“Our partnership with Aldi will be a notable step in our history and will allow us to share our Pale Ale, with the rest of the country, which is proudly made using Sussex grown ingredients.”
Aldi has won several industry awards of late for its gin, wines and whisky.
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