How Yorkshire Brewery Expanded Exports To Europe And North America

Ever wondered how a local business from your neck of the woods ends up selling its stuff on the other side of the world? It’s a pretty cool story, especially when it involves a family, a farm, and some brilliant beer. This is exactly what happened with Wold Top Brewery, a family-run business on the Yorkshire coast. They started with a simple idea on their family farm and are now sending their brews across Europe and North America. But going global isn't as simple as sticking a stamp on a box. It takes clever thinking, a bit of bravery, and some serious support to make it happen. Let's get into how this Yorkshire family brewery cracked the export code.

From a family farm to a fantastic family brewery

The story kicks off back in 2003. Farmers Tom and Gill were looking for new ways to make their family farm sustainable for the future. Instead of just growing crops and selling them on, they had a lightbulb moment. What if they used what they grew to make something special? They had fields of fantastic barley, their own supply of fresh water, and a whole lot of passion. The answer was obvious: brewing. With the help of a farm diversification grant, Wold Top Brewery was born. It’s a proper ‘farm to glass’ operation, using their own homegrown barley to create their range of beers. This isn't just a business; it’s a true family brewery, built from the ground up right there in Yorkshire.

The good kind of problem: getting bigger

It didn’t take long for people to realise how good their beer was. By 2008, Wold Top was already sending its first export shipment to, of all places, Italy. And the Italians loved it. Soon, orders started flooding in from all over Europe. Countries like Sweden, Switzerland, and Germany were all asking for a taste. The buzz even crossed the Atlantic, with growing demand from Canada and the wider North America market. This massive growth is what every business dreams of. But it also creates a classic headache that many exporters face: managing cash flow.

Think about it. Imagine you run a business and you’ve just shipped a massive order of beer to a customer in Italy. They might take 60 or even 90 days to pay you. But you’ve got bills that need paying right now – your staff’s wages, the electricity bill, the cost of ingredients for the next batch. That gap between the money going out and the money coming in can be really tricky to manage. As the business grew, this challenge became bigger and bigger, and it was clear that some expert support was needed to keep the exports flowing smoothly.

Finding a clever solution for global growth

This is where things get interesting. Wold Top Brewery’s bank, Virgin Money, suggested they talk to a government department called UK Export Finance (UKEF). UKEF is the UK’s official export credit agency, and its whole reason for being is to help British companies find new opportunities to sell their products around the world. They have a brilliant scheme called the General Export Facility, or GEF for short. It’s not a straightforward loan from the government. Instead, UKEF acts as a guarantor for the bank. It's a bit like when a parent co-signs a rental agreement; it gives the bank the confidence that the loan is a safe bet. With this government backing, Virgin Money was able to provide Wold Top Brewery with a £200,000 trade loan. This financial support was the key that unlocked the next stage of their growth.

Kate Balchin, the Managing Director at Wold Top Brewery, explained just how vital this was.

“Working with UK Export Finance has been critical to our continued success."

"This support has been particularly important when managing cash flow for exports to countries such as Italy, which have longer payment terms. This business means a lot to my family, with the farm having been started by my great-grandfather. The backing from UKEF and Virgin Money has helped us grow and take our beer international."

Putting the support into action

So, with the finances sorted, what did this trade loan actually allow the family brewery to do? According to the announcement on Tuesday 25th November, 2025, it was a game-changer. The brewery could finally say a big 'yes' to all the new orders pouring in from Europe and North America. A major part of the investment went into a new canning line. This was a really smart move. Cans are much lighter than glass bottles, which means Wold Top can ship more beer in each container. This not only makes the export process more efficient and sustainable but also opens up their products to customers who prefer cans. The support from UK Export Finance didn’t just help the business; it helped the local community. The brewery now employs over 20 people from the area and has become a cornerstone of the local economy.

Manuel Fantin, an Export Finance Manager at UKEF, commented:

“It is so rewarding to support a small family-run business and help the company’s continued growth. Wold Top are supporting the local economy through their farm-based production process and their expanding portfolio of export orders. The General Export Facility is ideal for just this, providing extra financing to manage new orders or expand exports.”

Peter Hough from Virgin Money added:

“Providing Wold Top Brewery with access to finance is a great example of how we at Virgin Money look to empower small businesses. The support for UKEF has allowed us to reduce our risk and be able to continually provide support for businesses, like Wold Top Brewery, aiming to continue their export growth.”

What's next for the Yorkshire brewery?

Wold Top isn't a business that rests on its laurels. The success of its expansion into markets like Germany, Switzerland, and Canada has given it the confidence to aim even higher. The next country on its map is Spain, as it continues to seek out new opportunities for growth. The journey of this family brewery from a single family farm in Yorkshire to an international exporter is a fantastic example of what can be achieved with a great product and the right kind of strategic support. It shows that even a small business can make a big splash on the world stage, sharing a taste of Yorkshire with beer lovers everywhere.

Address: Hunmanby Road, Hunmanby, Driffield YO25 3HS, United Kingdom