BELLFIELD Brewery, the gluten-free beer producer, is aiming to raise £1 million to fund its expansion plans, writes Scott Wright.

The Edinburgh-based brewer, which exports to countries such as Singapore, the Netherlands, Malta, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is looking to raise the finance from existing backers Equity Gap and the Scottish Investment Bank, as well as new private investors.

Its plans were revealed shortly after the company, whose beers are stocked in around 350 outlets in Scotland and the north of England, ordered a new 2,000-litre brew plant, underlining the demand it is experiencing for its output. Bellefield expects the new kit to be operational by December, with the beer it makes to mainly be used to meet demand for its draught beer products in Scotland and London.

The company previously raised £430,000 in a funding round led by Equity Gap and the Scottish Investment Bank in August last year, which followed a £180,000 fundraiser on Crowdcube in 2015. It will use the fresh investment to market its brands, which include Bohemian Pilsner, and add to its sales and marketing team.

“Our aim is to become the leading gluten-free brewery in the world,” said founder and director Alistair Brown.