Spanish beer company Damm has entered an on-premise distribution agreement with Northern Monk, an independent craft brewery based in the UK.
From May, Damm will distribute Northern Monk’s “key brands”, Faith (5% abv) and A Little Faith (4% abv), across the UK on-trade, a statement said.
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The partnership is to enable Northern Monk to leverage Damm’s “extensive” on-trade distribution network.
The brewer will continue producing its beers in Leeds.
Northern Monk founder and managing director Russell Bisset said the brewery would see a 20% year-on-year expansion in its capacity in 2025, enabling it to produce an extra 2 million pints.
In November, the group raised close to £2m (then $2.6m) in a crowdfunding campaign, exceeding its £1m target.
At the time, the business said it intended to use the investment to fund a number of developments across the business, including the installation of additional tanks its brewery on Sydenham Road, which are to increase capacity by 44% to 73,000 hectolitres.
Speaking on the new distribution agreement, Bisset added: “As one of the fastest growing beer brands in the off-trade, we are excited to join forces with Damm, a best-in-class partner, to accelerate our on-trade growth too, using this increased capacity to raise awareness of Northern Monk across the UK.”
For Barcelona-based Damm, the deal adds a “leading” UK craft brand alongside its Spanish and Japanese brands, “enhancing” its portfolio, the statement read.
The agreement encompasses the entire UK on-trade market, except “select venues” where Northern Monk will maintain direct distribution.
Damm managing director in the UK Luke White said: “This is a significant milestone for us as we expand our presence and solidify our super premium beer offering here in the UK.
“Both companies share a dedication to delivering exceptional, high-quality beer to elevate consumer consumption occasions, and this agreement represents a new chapter in our mutual commitment to excellence in the craft beer sector. Northern Monk’s reputation for quality and innovation aligns seamlessly with our values.”
The partnership follows Damm’s expansion in the UK, including its takeover of distribution rights for Kirin Ichiban from Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company in December last year.
Founded in 1876, Damm operates 17 production plants across the Iberian Peninsula and one in Bedford, UK.
The company produces over 21 million hectolitres of beer and other beverages annually. In 2023, it reported a turnover of €2.06bn ($2.22bn) and employed 5,765 people.
