Member Article

Durham gin makers celebrate successful first few months of trading

Durham Distillery, has enjoyed a strong start to trading since getting set up in April 2013, with plans to launch a new product Durham Vodka, within the next few weeks.

The company, which is the first legal distillery in Durham since the days of Henry VIII, is based in Langley Park.

It was supported with a marketing project, receiving funding from the North East Business Support Fund (NEBSF) to help cover the cost of creating a strong brand identity to take the product to market.

Since April, the company has supplied to the likes of Fenwick, Majestic as well as a number of independent stores across the region. The alcohol is also on sale in bars at Seaham Hall and Jesmond Dene House, among others.

The business, which was set up by former NHS executive Jon Chadwick, is selling between 700 and 900 bottles of gin each month, both through its ecommerce website and retailers and bars.

Products are handmade by Jessica Tomlinson, the company’s distiller, who at 26 is the youngest female distiller in the country.

Mr Chadwick said the success of the business to date had – in no small part – been down to the recognizable brand created with the support of NBSL, the organization that administers the NEBSF.

He said: “I was really aware when I set up the company that we needed a distinctive brand that would stand out. Essentially, we are selling a clear liquid in a bottle, so I knew I needed something colourful and attractive in order to compete with international brands.

“Working with NBSL, we were able to access support to cover the costs of the brand development, and to create labels for our bottles that really do look fantastic. And I cannot speak highly enough of the support we received.

“The team at NBSL were so supportive, and the process of accessing funding was simple and straightforward. I would recommend any business – young or old – to tap into the help available to them. We’re lucky that there are some really good people in the North East working in the business support sector, and during start up, it is so helpful to have that assistance available.”

For more information visit www.gov.uk/browse/business/funding-debt/european-regional-development-funding.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .