Sovereign Beverage Company registers record sales in South Korea

The Sovereign Beverage Company, a Blackburn-based firm which helps firms export, sold more than 300,000 bottles of beer into South Korea throughout 2016.

Sovereign exports to over 60 countries worldwide at present, representing the likes of Greene King, Marstons, Robinsons, Timothy Taylor and Innis & Gunn. The company’s aim is to help its partners maximise sales growth whilst reducing the complexity and risks associated with exporting.

Sovereign’s products are listed in Home Plus, South Korea’s second largest supermarket chain. In 2015, the company’s first year in the supermarket, it sold 382 hectolitres (115,746 33cl bottles) and in 2016 the company sold 1,000 hectolitres (the equivalent of 303,000 bottles of 33cl) across the Hobgoblin and Hobgoblin Gold brands.

Sovereign products are now present in over a hundred bars, with that figure expected to reach 250 during 2017. This will be achieved with the introduction of products available on draught, with the company also hopeful of winning a listing in E-Mart, South Korea’s number one supermarket chain.

Matt Ashton-Melia, head of sales at Sovereign Beverage, commented: “There are numerous reasons for our success in South Korea. We’re in a packaging format which suits the market. We’re competitively priced. The products have a good story and have characters on the bottle which differentiates the range from most other beer brands. The products have achieved great success in their domestic market and we offer value for money – the quality of liquid, packaging, and price represents an attractive proposition to a prospective importer.

“This year we’re due to launch a quintessentially British spirit portfolio which we’re really excited about and should be a natural extension to our current business.”

The company’s sales also follow its attendance of a Department for International Trade (DIT) trade mission to the country. Paul Stowers, deputy regional director for the Department for International Trade North West, added: “The Sovereign Beverage Company’s success is testament to its nous in seizing the global demand for British beers, resulting in record breaking numbers for the company. Matt and his team are a great example of how the expertise UK drink companies possess is in demand all over the world."