A 12-month marketing plan to relaunch brands and expand turnover at Cairngorm Brewery Ltd. and target new customers, is to receive a £25,400 marketing assistance grant from Moray Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise (MBSE).

Cairngorm Brewery was established in August 2001 to market the brands of the previously amalgamated Aviemore Brewery, set up in 1997, and Tomintoul Brewery, the company it acquired in 2000.  The new name, which ties in with the name for the new National Park, provides opportunities for a stronger regional identity and sales are now increasing steadily.

The plan, costing a total of more than £72,000, has been developed in conjunction with MBSE's marketing adviser, Stewart Miller, and includes redesigning of brand labels, production of promotional material including point of sale material, merchandising and website design; public relations, events and exhibitions, market research and sponsorship.

Stewart Miller said:  "This is a growing business that has the potential to generate a wider national market for its products.  I am very pleased we are able to assist what has the makings of an effective marketing strategy."

The initial aim of the marketing programme is to re-launch the business and the portfolio of key brands and reach a wider customer base, primarily in UK markets. Following extensive market research with existing customers, ideas for new designs were discussed and developed to give the products (beers) a more distinctive look.  If the aims of the plan are achieved the company will make further investment in factory improvements to meet increased demand.

Samantha Faircliff, managing director of Cairngorm Brewery, said:  "This is a very important year for us.  With a carefully targeted marketing strategy we will be better placed to know how extensive our expansion needs to be by the autumn of 2003 ready for 2004 and beyond.  With MBSE's help we can now make this assessment much faster than we could have done without the financial assistance."

Meanwhile management and staff at the Brewery are celebrating after the firm received the Investors in People award, the national recognition for organisations that aim to develop staff skills in line with business planning.