Media release: BrewDog founders share their story of success on BBC ALBA

FOUNDERS of global brewing phenomenon, BrewDog, have spoken exclusively about the challenges they faced to achieve success in a new documentary which airs on BBC ALBA on Wednesday, March 18.

James Watt and Martin Dickie, from Aberdeenshire, reveal how they built the business from an industrial unit in Fraserburgh with second-hand equipment and an ambition to turn the beer scene on its head.

Their beer wasn’t received well at first and they both moved back in with their parents because they couldn’t pay themselves a salary. Despite working over 20 hours a day, and continued rejections, they persisted.

The business was at risk of going under until they won a national supermarket competition which led to their beer being carried in 400 stores, selling 2,000 cases a week, which gave them room to develop.

In 2018, James and Martin sold a 22 per cent share of BrewDog to a private equity company and earned £50 million each.

James said: “We teetered on the edge of bankruptcy constantly for years but the passion and belief for what we do has definitely helped. We just weren’t going to give up. We were going to do what it takes.”

BrewDog now employs nearly 2,000 people globally, has 100 bars across the world, including Germany, Spain, America, Japan and Paris and breweries in the US, Berlin and Australia.

The BrewDog Story (Na Grùdairean) airs on Wednesday, March 18 on BBC ALBA from 9pm
to 10pm and will be repeated on Monday, March 23 at 10.30pm to 11.30pm. It will also
be available on the BBC iPlayer for 30 days.

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Bhruidhinn an fheadhainn a stèidhich an iomairt grùdaidh iongantach BrewDog gu prìobhaideach mu na dùbhlain tron deach iad air an t-slighe gu soirbheachas ann am prògram aithris ùr a thèid a chraoladh air BBC ALBA air Diciadain 18mh dhen Mhàirt.

Tha Seumas Watt is Màrtainn Dickie à Siorrachd Obar Dheathain ag innse mar a dh’fhàs iad a’ ghnìomhachas bho ionad gnìomha luideach sa Bhruaich, le seann innealraidh ach le amasan mòr roinn an leanna a chur bun os cionn.

Cha robh fèill mhòr air an leann aca sa chiad dol a-mach, agus chaidh an dithis a dh’fhuireach còmhla rim pàrantan seach nach b’ urrainn dhaibh tuarastal a phàigheadh dhaibh fhèin. A dh’aindeoin a bhith ag obair 20 uair san latha is iomadh diùltadh, chum iad orra.

Bha an gnothaich ann an cunnart a dhol fodha nuair a bhuannaich iad farpais aig mhòr-mhargaid nàiseanta a bha ciallachadh gu robh an leann a chur ann an 400 bùth, a’ reic 2,000 bogsa gach seachdain, agus thug sinn dhaibh an cothrom leasachadh a dhèanamh.

Ann an 2018, reic Seumas is Màrtainn earrann de 22 sa cheud ann am BrewDog ri companaidh cothromais prìobhaideach Ameireaganach, a’ cosnadh £50 millean an duine.

Thuirt Seumas: “Bha sinn ann an cunnart bristeachais fad bhliadhnaichean, ach rinn ar dealasachd agus ar misneachd anns na tha sinn a’ dèanamh feum mhòr. Cha robh sinn a’ dol a ghèilleadh. Dhèanadh sinn na bha a dhìth.”

Tha BrewDog a-nise a’ toirt cosnadh dha 2,000 neach air feadh na cruinne, le 100 bàr air feadh a t-saoghail ann an àiteachan leithid A’ Ghearmailt, An Spàinn, Ameireaga, Iapan agus Paris, agus tha taighean grùdaidh aca sna Stàitean Aonaichte, Berlin agus Astràilia.

Thèid The BrewDog Story (Na Grùdairean) a chraoladh air a chraoladh air Diciadain 18mh dhen Mhàirt air BBC ALBA bho 9f gu 10f, agus thèid à chraoladh air Diluain 23 dhen Mhàirt eadar 10.30f agus 11.30f. Bidh e cuideachd ri fhaicinn air iPlayer a’ BhBC airson 30 latha.

Issued by Electrify Marketing & Communications on behalf of MG ALBA

MEDIA RELEASE issued by Electrify Marketing & Communications. You too can share your stories (aka press or media releases), on this site. Email here for more information.

Contact: Laura Sturrock

Email: laura@electrify.me.uk