Lightning strikes ... in Italy

Asmall brewery based near Salisbury, UK, is wooing Italian bars in Milan, Rome and Turin with its range of speciality ales.

The Hop Back Brewery was started by husband and wife team John and Julie Gilbert in 1987 from the cellar of their pub. Its flagship beer is called Summer Lightning, which has won many awards in Britain.

Now the company has decided to expand into Europe with help from Trade Partners UK, a government body dedicated to providing UK companies with global expertise on international trade, investment and business advise.

Sales manager of The Hop Back Brewery Greig Fletcher said: "Trade Partners UK was able to give us advise on the specifics of labelling for Italian markets, help towards travel expenditure so we could research our customer base, and general information on the rules and regulations of exporting.

"We're now supplying around 80 bars and six different distributors in Northern Italy. It's a very exciting time for us. Our export turnover has risen by about two to three per cent. We're also developing our trade with the USA, Finland and Sweden and considering opportunities in New Zealand as well.“

For more information, visit www.tradepartners.gov.uk

Recent Issues