Supply Chain Facility Lease Signed

RNS Number : 3037P

Artisanal Spirits Company PLC (The)

18 October 2021

 

18 October 2021

The Artisanal Spirits Company plc

("The Artisanal Spirits Company", "ASC" or the "Company")

Supply Chain Facility Lease Signed

and

SMWS Global Membership Surpasses 30,000

The Artisanal Spirits Company (AIM: ART), the owner of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS"), the leading curator and provider of premium single cask Scotch malt whisky and other spirits for sale primarily online to a discerning global membership, is pleased to announce that it has signed a 10-year lease for a new supply chain facility in Uddingston, Scotland.

The contract, initially announced as a heads of terms agreement in September 2021, will provide the Group with greater control of its supply chain, with a view to improving margin contribution over time. The 37,000 sq. ft. facility comprises a high quality warehouse, production building and offices and is located on a secure yard with excellent transport links. Design work and the process of sourcing equipment is underway and the installation is scheduled to begin at the start of 2022. The facility is expected to become fully operational in the second half of 2022 and will employ around 10 people.

The new supply chain facility provides the Company with enhanced capability to supply its growing SMWS membership with ultra-premium scotch malt whisky and other spirits. SMWS' global membership has now surpassed 30,000 for the first time, with the recent uptake from UK members being particularly encouraging following the phased reopening of venues and relaxing of COVID related restrictions.

David Ridley, Executive Managing Director of the Company, said: "Securing a long-term lease at a newly refurbished supply chain facility comes at an exciting time for us as we continue to scale up the business with the IPO proceeds. The facility will allow us to take greater control over the Group's supply chain, whilst also providing us with the resources to supply our growing membership.

"To have attracted 30,000 members worldwide is testament to our offering and signifies an exciting milestone for the Group and we look forward to further membership growth, while continuing to excite our existing members, with an increasing variety of flavours and quality SMWS products in the years to come."

For further enquiries:

The Artisanal Spirits Company plc David Ridley, Managing Director Andrew Dane, Finance Director	via Alma PR
Singer Capital Markets (Nominated Adviser and Sole Broker) Sandy Fraser Rachel Hayes George Tzimas Asha Chotai	Tel: [phone]
Alma PR (Financial PR) Josh Royston David Ison Harriet Jackson Molly Gretton	Tel: [phone] [e-mail]

About The Artisanal Spirits Company

Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) is based in Edinburgh. It owns The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) which was established in 1983 and currently has a growing worldwide membership of over 30,000 paying subscribers.

Harnessing the experience of some of the most knowledgeable stewards in the industry, SMWS provides members with inspiring experiences, content and exclusive access to a vast and unique range of outstanding single cask Scotch malt whiskies and other craft spirits, sourced from over 100 distilleries in 20 countries and expertly curated with diligence and care. In 2020 over 85% of Group revenue was generated online, whilst 9% was generated through SMWS's four UK venues.

Having initially proven its premium experience model in the UK, SMWS is now able to offer its unrivalled breadth of distinguished flavours to an expanding international market, with 69% of 2020 sales from outside the UK. SMWS has a growing presence in the key international whisky markets of UK, China, USA and Europe.

ASC is building a portfolio of premium brands that bring together some of the world's best producers with a growing movement of discerning consumers by curating unrivalled collections of craft spirits.

 

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