A Norfolk wine supplier which was bought out of administration 10 years ago has rolled out an international expansion plan on the back of 20pc year-on-year growth.
Broadland Wineries has opened a new operation in New York State as it pushed its turnover through the £50m mark.
It comes after the firm recently installed 25 new stainless steel tanks at its production line in Cawston.
The business – which was pulled back from the brink in 2005 – has diversified towards importing wine from Australia, Chile and South Africa, as well as creating its own wie from imported grapes.
Speaking at the Norfolk Show, Ben Cameron, marketing manager, said the success of recent products such as the cider-inspired fruit wines, and popularity of 'mead' in the wake of the TV series Game of Thrones, had put them in a stronger position.
'We saw that the fruity ciders were popular, and wanted to get people to try wine with that sweeter taste,' said Mr Cameron.
The company had tried producing cider itself, but found the market was already saturated.
'Now our office opened in New York, and we're looking at other branches, possibly in the Nordic countries,' he said.
The company's master of wine is Dr Arabella Woodrow, one of an estimated 300 in the world, who works to help develop new products.
A stronger marketing team has also seen the company branch out into creating labels for supermarket brands. Now, the winery is investing in a new bottling line and wants to grow a fermentation facility.
Elise Earl, regional sales executive, said a great strength of the business had been the loyalty of its 125-strong staff.
'One thing about being based in Norfolk is the history of the staff. We've got fathers and sons, husbands and wives working here – it makes it a proper family business,' she said.
'It's the whole team, the lab assistants, the engineers and our master of wine coming together.'
Have you got a business story? Email business editor Ben Woods at ben.woods@archant.co.uk.
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