Overseas distributors and production partners sought by ‘water-into-beer’ developers Moonshine Drinks

A UK-based company which has developed an exciting new brew in a bag product that turns tap water into beers, ciders and wines is continuing its expansion plans by searching for overseas partners ahead of the launch of additional products in the range. 

Moonshine Drinks – an award-winning new and unique brew-at-home product with a worldwide patent – is revolutionising the market for creating drinks at home.   

Last Autumn the firm launched with a three-strong range of beers which are produced simply by adding water to the Moonshine bag to create quality, naturally brewed beer in around two weeks.

With growing UK sales and current interest in more than ten countries, a range of ciders and wines is planned for launch in Autumn 2014…. using the same ‘just add water’ technique.

Now Moonshine Drinks is looking for partners outside the UK to distribute the growing product range or even produce locally under licence in more distant markets. 

“As we prepare to launch into the next phase, this is a perfect time for overseas distributors to talk to Moonshine Drinks,” said Moonshine Drinks’ Richard Worrall. “We are now looking for retail or distribution partners who could generate sales outside the UK on a distribution or production licence basis.” 

The Moonshine beer bags are currently being sold in the UK through premium retailer Lakeland and via upmarket garden centres and stores, with about 300 outlets now stocking the product. The range includes: 

• Cheesemakers – a lighter, golden ale with a hoppy flavour
• Four Candles – a medium bitter, traditional malty British ale
• Dark Adder – a dark beer akin to a mild with a subtle liquorice flavour

All brew to about 4.2% ABV strength and are ready to drink around two weeks after the brewing process begins and last a further month. Each brew-at-home-system comes in a striking, space-saving tube, which contains a brewing bag with malt extract inside, a sachet of ‘Moondust’ (yeast/nutrients), a yellow brewing cap and instructions for use. 

The products pre-brew are inert, non-alcoholic (and therefore do not require a special licence to be sold) and have a year’s shelf life. Also suitable for vegetarians, they contain natural ingredients and are simple and fun to brew. The Moonshine beers produce 25 pints or about 14 litres of beer from just one bag and are the easiest way to produce craft beer at home. 

Two ciders (apple and perry/pear) and three wines (white Pinot Grigio, rosé Zinfandel and red Cabernet Sauvignon) are due to be launched in the Autumn to give a full range of drinks. 

The product, which was developed by Moonshine Drinks Ltd in conjunction with experts at The University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University, was awarded an innovation award from the Food and Drink iNet during its development. 

The Moonshine team works with one of the world’s leading malt suppliers, Muntons, to create the individual mix of ingredients which are the basis for such superb drinks. 

Distributors or potential producers who fit the bill and can potentially work with Moonshine Drinks should contact Richard Worrall on richard@moonshinedrinks.co.uk for more information. 

www.moonshinedrinks.co.uk

Press release issued by Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

East Midlands fbe appointment for BSP Consulting director

BSP Consulting’s business development director Jef Todd has become the regional chairman of the East Midlands fbe (Forum for the Built Environment).

Jef, who has been on the committee of the property, development and construction professionals’ group for three years, and was vice chairman, takes over from Nic Jepson, director of Nottingham-based InLine Property Consultants, who held the post for two years. Nic has been made East Midlands regional director, having been promoted after Adrienne Vaughan, AVA PR, completed her two-year tenure in the role. 

Jef has worked at civil and structural engineering firm BSP Consulting, which is based at Oxford Street, Nottingham, and has offices in Derby, Leicester and Sheffield, since 2001. He said: “This is a key appointment and I am looking forward to promoting the fbe across the East Midlands.” 

The fbe is a national organisation, with branches across the UK and is the longest established networking group for the property, development and construction industries. Initially established in the East Midlands, the organisation runs an annual awards scheme, as well as a number of social and other events. It covers Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. 

Other committee members include: Louise Whitehead, legal director at solicitors Shakespeares in Leicester, Adrienne Vaughan, managing director at Lutterworth-based AVA PR, and Eddie Mewies, managing director of civil engineering firm M-EC Consulting Development Engineers in Ibstock. 

For more information about the fbe and the branch visit www.fbeonline.co.uk.

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk 

Multi-million pound masterplan role for Focus Consultants

Focus Consultants has been appointed to oversee a £35 million masterplan project in Eastbourne which will breathe new life into the town’s major attractions. 

The scheme aims to refurbish three listed theatres and the international tennis centre, as well as build a new conference centre, to create world-class tourism, cultural and business facilities. 

Funding and regeneration experts at Focus Consultants have been secured to project manage the Devonshire Park development, and are currently in the process of appointing a design team to create concept designs for the project. These are likely to be put before decision-makers at Eastbourne Borough Council next Spring. 

“This is a major redevelopment not only for Eastbourne but for Focus Consultants too,” said Eleanor Clarke, senior consultant at Focus. “It’s a key project that is scheduled to create a range of benefits for the town and for the area, and we are very pleased to be part of the team that will bring this scheme to reality.” 

The ambitious plans include essential repairs to and a complete refurbishment of the Congress Theatre, Winter Garden, a new conference centre between them and an extensive facelift of the tennis centre, which is the home of the AEGON International tournament in June, which proceeds Wimbledon fortnight.  

Nottingham-headquartered Focus Consultants, with offices in London, Leicester, Boston and Aubourn near Lincoln, was procured for the work at Eastbourne through the Fusion21 framework - a social enterprise that promotes public procurement as a means to save money and create social outcomes. 

As well as being secured as project manager, the firm is also acting as CDM coordinator. 

Focus, which is celebrating its 20^th anniversary during 2014, offers a range of services in the construction and development sector, including funding and economic development, regeneration expertise, energy consultancy and chartered surveying services. 

Since its creation in 1994, Focus has helped to secure more than £925 million of grant assistance for a range of projects and businesses across the UK and delivered more than £1.0 billion worth of projects and programmes – making it one of the most successful businesses of its kind in the country. 

It has worked on a range of high-profile projects in the arts, heritage and tourism sector, including some of the major museums across the UK, and important historical and ecclesiastical sites. 

Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, Councillor David Tutt, said: “I’m delighted our masterplan for a new, vibrant Devonshire Park has taken another step forward. It is an extremely exciting project which will make Eastbourne an even more attractive place to live and visit for many years to come.” 

Leader of the opposition, Councillor David Elkin, said: "The Devonshire Park project is an amazing opportunity to restore the theatre area of Eastbourne to its former glory, and truly enhance the level of offer available to both residents and visitors to our town. I look forward with great anticipation to its completion.”

www.focus-consultants.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Nottingham Castle Success for Focus

Focus Consultants has played a key role in securing a major grant for the redevelopment of Nottingham Castle. The Heritage Lottery Fund announced that it has awarded Nottingham Castle with a First Round Pass of almost £13m to help transform Nottingham Castle and bring to life 1,000 years of history.

Focus Consultants has been working with Nottingham Castle Trust over the last two years to help formulate their ambitions for the Castle as a world class heritage attraction and to help raise the profile of Nottingham. Focus was the lead consultant working on the bid, providing project management, bid writing, business planning and cost advice services to Nottingham City Council to develop the successful bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The total project costs are around £24m and the HLF’s investment will help ensure the Castle’s heritage is brought to life as well as opening up a unique set of caves beneath the site. The project is part of exciting and ambitious plans to regenerate the city as a whole and put it firmly back on the tourist map.

It is the latest high-profile heritage scheme for Focus Consultants, whose head office is at Phoenix Business Park, Nottingham, with offices in Holborn in London, Leicester, Boston and Aubourn in Lincolnshire.

“The team at Focus Consultants are proud to have been involved in such a prestigious and exciting project, which will make Nottingham Castle a world class heritage attraction and we are delighted that the bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund has been successful” said Focus Consultants partner Steven Fletcher.

Work will now take place to develop the project plans in detail before a final application is submitted to Heritage Lottery Fund in Autumn 2015.

Focus, which is celebrating its 20^th anniversary during 2014, offers a range of services in the heritage and development sector, including funding and economic development, regeneration expertise, energy consultancy and chartered surveying services.

Since its creation in 1994, Focus has helped to secure more than £925m of grant assistance for a range of projects and businesses across the UK and delivered more than £1.0 billion worth of projects and programmes – making it one of the most successful businesses of its kind in the country.

It has worked on a range of high-profile projects in the arts, heritage and tourism sector, including some of the major museums across the UK, and important historical and ecclesiastical sites.

For further information, visit www.focus-consultants.com

Press release issued by Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Special sausage squad at Croots Farm Shop to mark the World Cup

Derbyshire farm shop Croots has created a special range of sausages to celebrate the upcoming football World Cup and to raise money for charity. 

Butchers at the farm shop near Duffield are renowned for inventing unusual and interesting flavours – and now they plan to add the Bangerooney, the Costa Rican, the Italian and the Uruguayan to the shop’s range in reference to the teams in England’s group D. 

To cheer on the England team, the Bangerooney is returning to the shop’s sausage squad following its popularity four years ago when Croots ran a similar fund-raising effort for charity during the 2010 World Cup. 

Ten per cent from the sale of each World Cup sausage will be donated to Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre, which is one of Croots Farm Shop’s adopted charities this year. The charity was established in 1891 to give disadvantaged Derbyshire children holidays in Skegness, Lincolnshire, and currently provides 450 holiday places per season for boys and girls aged from eight to 14. 

“We had a great response from our customers when we created special sausages to mark the World Cup in 2010 and raised more than £300 for a local charity,” said Croots Farm Shop owner Steve Croot. 

“Our butchers have been experimenting once again and have designed some excellent flavours to celebrate the tournament this time round.” 

The Bangerooney, named after England striker Wayne Rooney, contains pork with Croots Cow Juice Ale, which is a traditional old English sausage recipe. 

The Costa Rican is made of spicy beef, while the Uruguayan is a tasty combination of pork and chorizo. Pork, tomato, mozzarella and basil have been combined to create the Italian sausage. 

The pork used in the sausages comes from Packington Free Range Pork, in Staffordshire, while the beef hails from R & M Heath (Richard & Margaret) at Hazelwood Hall Farm, Hazelwood, Derbyshire. 

The World Cup range kicks off in store on May 30^th and will be on sale throughout the tournament, which runs from June 12^th to July 13^th, subject to availability. 

Croots Farm Shop has won scores of awards for its sausages and meat products, including Great Taste Awards, the ‘oscars’ of the fine food industry. Two years ago the farm shop in Wirksworth Road developed an Olympig range of sausages to mark the London Olympics, which raised several hundred pounds for Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre. 

Opened in 2008, Croots was a runner-up in the Best UK Independent Food Retailer 2010 category of the Observer Food Monthly Awards. The year before, it was named in The Independent’s top 50 best food shops.

Croots Farm Shop is open daily from 9am to 5pm (Shires Eatery until 4.30pm). Croots runs Fresh Fish Thursdays between 10am and 4pm on Thursdays.

For more information visit www.croots.co.uk  

Press release issued by Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk