Simpsons Malt has made a strategic investment of £6 million in a state-of-the-art peated malt production facility, equipped with the capacity to produce 25,000 tonnes of peated malt annually. This initiative aligns with current food and beverage industry trends aimed at enhancing production efficiency.
The facility’s bespoke design enables seamless monitoring and adjustment of phenol levels—essential for tailoring malt characteristics to meet customer specifications. This adaptability further reflects the evolving food manufacturing trends focused on customization and quality.
Additionally, the development incorporates advanced air centrifuge abatement technology, significantly reducing particulate emissions by up to 90%. Such innovations are vital for compliance with food and drink regulations and enhancing sustainability.
This investment follows the commissioning of a new germination and kilning vessel (GKV), which became fully operational in late 2024. The facility’s strategic advancements illustrate a commitment to food processing technology and continued growth.
Boosted Production Capacity
Since the GKV’s installation, Simpsons Malt has increased its annual malt production capacity by an impressive 15,000 tonnes, elevating total production at the Berwick-upon-Tweed site to 260,000 tonnes per year. This escalation aligns with food distribution trends as demand for quality malt continues to rise.
Groundwork for the GKV commenced in May 2023, as part of a comprehensive £10 million investment. This newly constructed GKV, the tenth at the Tweed Valley Maltings, boasts a capacity of 400 tonnes per batch, enhancing operational efficiency.
Tim McCreath, managing director at Simpsons Malt, said: “Investing regularly in our infrastructure is a key strategic and operational priority of our fifth-generation, family business, helping us to drive the quality, consistency and sustainability of our products and processes.”
“In recent months, it has been fantastic to welcome many distillers to our Tweed Valley Maltings, where they have been able to witness not only the investments that have been made with the new GKV, but other projects including our Energy Centre development and the construction of ten new malt storage silos.”
Lower Carbon Footprint
With a current carbon footprint below the industry average, the malt produced in the new GKV, along with the other nine GKVs on site, leverages power from the adjacent Energy Centre for the kilning process. This contributes to the growing emphasis on food and drink sustainability.
Developed in partnership with AMP Clean Energy, the Energy Centre features three 6MW biomass boilers and one 12MW electric boiler powered by curtailed wind energy. This innovative setup reduces carbon emissions from kilning by an impressive 90%.
As a result, Scope 1 & 2 emissions at the Tweed Valley Maltings have been reduced by up to 80%, with a company-wide reduction of up to 55%. This aligns with the overarching trend of food and drink industry innovation focused on environmental responsibility.
