HAVING SUCCESSFULLY hit its initial crowdfunding target of £40K ahead of its 16 June deadline, North West based craft lager brewery, Manchester Union Brewery, has created a stretch target for its Together We CAN campaign and now hopes to raise a total of £60,000 to purchase its own canning machine and hire its first employee.
Having lost its revenue overnight due to the UK-wide lockdown, Manchester Union Brewery launched its crowdfunding campaign to raise £40,000 in order to break into commercial retail in June 2020, by moving its product from keg to can.
Having hit target with the support of approximately 500 pledgers, a week in advance of its deadline, the brewery is now stretching its target to £60K for the final week of the campaign.
The funds raised so far will be put toward the necessary materials for canning the brewery’s craft lager, but an additional £20,000 will provide the business with the funds to put a deposit down on its own canning machine to lower the cost of canning and allow them to can small batches of seasonal and limited edition beer.
If met, the stretch target will also enable Manchester Union Brewery to hire its first employee.
Alongside its existing rewards to those pledging money, including a lifetime’s supply of lager and a 10% discount on products, the brewery is also now offering a new incentive. Those pledging £250 to the cause will be entitled to a Manchester Union brewery branded fridge, filled with lager.
The Manchester Union Brewery crowdfunder closes at 11am on Tuesday 16th June.
To pledge support, please visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/togetherweCAN
Jamie Scahill, Director of Manchester Union Brewery, comments: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support and generosity we’ve received during this challenging time. When the lockdown put a stop to business as usual, we knew we would have to be bold and act fast in order to keep the business afloat – but without the help of more than 500 supporters who’ve pledged money to help us, it simply wouldn’t be possible for us to branch out into commercial retail as we’re now able to do.
“Grateful is an understatement – we’re so appreciative and over the moon at having hit our original £40K target – and to now be in a position to stretch that target and hopefully afford our own canning machine and an employee is beyond what any of us hoped for from this campaign. Thank you to everyone who has supported our cause.”
The team at Manchester Union Brewery has released a short video thanking all those who’ve pledged money to their cause so far and to share updates on the progress of the crowdfunder and its impact on the business.
Manchester Union Brewery crafts its signature lager at Manchester’s first and only dedicated craft lager brewery, located in Ardwick.
Fusing traditional central European lager brewing techniques with a modern local twist, and water from the Lake District, Manchester Union Brewery is able to create a unique legacy beer. The truly Mancunian lager boasts a bold, silky-mouth feel with a touch of caramel sweetness, followed swiftly with a refreshingly dry and bitter finish from the central European hops.
