Annual sales have grown by 7% to £15.6m at Bath Ales – with the brewer and pub company crediting its success on keeping things simple.
The firm, based between Bath and Bristol at Warmley and best known for its flagship Gem bitter, has simplified its management reporting lines, reduced its supplier base and focused its investment in key areas for business growth.
Beer sales rose 18% to just under 30,000 hectolitres – more than 5m pints. 
Last year it spent more than £700,000 maintaining the quality of its beers, giving customers in its 11 outlets a great experience and investing in its team so they are clear on their objectives.
A refurbishment of The Wellington pub in Horfield – one of the biggest in its estate – resulted in a 20% increase in trade.
Bath Ales also continued to develop its Beerd brand, adding locations in Bristol and Oxford.
Future investment will be targeted at increasing capacity in its packaging and kegging operation.
Bath Ales managing director Roger Jones said: “What we look to do is make quality beers, to ensure our customers’ experience of visiting one of our venues is the best it can be, and to look after our people.
“Reaching the milestone of our 20th anniversary last year naturally prompted some reflection on the great progress we have made and consideration around what we want to achieve in the future – and the really clear consensus was that keeping it simple and being focused on our core strengths is what works for us, our customers and their customers.
“In what remains a crowded and highly competitive market, we know what we are good at and we know to play to our strengths – which is why I believe Bath Ales is in good shape, focused on the further progress we can make.”
The independent brewery was established in 1995 and uses traditional brewing techniques with cutting-edge technology. It produces just over 20,000 brewer’s barrels annually and has had its own bottling plant since 2007.
Its core beer range includes Gem, Barnsey, Dark Side, Wild Hare, Special Pale Ale and Ginger Hare.
Its Bath outlets include The Hop Pole and The Salamander. Its flagship Graze next to Bath Spa railway station also features a fully-functioning microbrewery.
