THE success of Caffrey's Ale has lead to a £10 million cross Border investment by brewers Bass and its subsidiary in the Republic, Tennents Ireland.
A £3 million brewhouse at the Bass Ireland brewery in west Belfast was formally opened yesterday the Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew. The company is also an extension to its Dublin facility, which should be completed by July.
The new brewhouse is part of a 7.6 million investment at the west site, which employs 335 people. The brewhouse has been built to cope with increased demand for Caffrey's, which had sales of about £200 million last year.
The brewhouse expansion is being supported by £1.6 million from the North's Industrial Development Board. Since the British launch of Caffrey's, on St Patrick's Day 1994, the Glen Road brewery has doubled its production.
Tennents Ireland, which has responsibility for Caffrey's in the Republic, is also expanding. Tennents Ireland managing director, Mr Liam Meaney, said the extension of the Glasnevin plant "was in direct response to the success of Caffrey's" since its launch in the Republic.
The expansion at Glasnevin will support Caffrey's growing distribution in the Republic. The beer, which was initially introduced to 170 pubs in Dublin, is now available in 1,300 pubs throughout the Republic.
