CALLANDER-based spirits business McQueen Gin is pressing ahead with plans for a new distillery that will create 12 jobs after reporting a more than threefold rise in turnover in the first half of the 2018/19 financial year.

The firm, which was established by husband and wife team Dale and Vicky McQueen in 2015, said that turnover in the six months to the end of January was up by 342 per cent to £970,000 after already rising by 282% to £283,500 in the same period last year.

This comes after the business secured distribution deals with supermarket chains Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s in addition to landing a seven-figure contract to create exclusive products for Aldi UK.

Mr McQueen said that in response to the growth the business has invested £750,000 in a new 6,200 sq ft facility that will increase capacity by over 1,000% when it opens in April this year.

‘’Our growth has been unprecedented in the last few years and we want to take advantage of that by not taking our foot off the gas,” Mr McQueen said.

“We are investing in the build of the infrastructure required to equip us to keep innovating, growing and developing exciting and desirable products for the fast-evolving and demanding gin market.

‘’With increased demand and capacity comes increased opportunity. When open and in full operation, we expect the new distillery to create as many as 12 new jobs in our local area, if not more.

“We have already filled three new positions since the build began and we will be looking to bring in more staff imminently as we make the official move to the new facility and our demand continues to increase.

“Our location is an area which we hold dear to us and which has played a central part in the building of our brand, so it’s great to be able to give something back as we expand our business.’’

McQueen Gin has already won a number of industry awards, including a double gold at the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its flagship super premium dry gin.