A RIBBON-cutting ceremony for a company’s expanded research and development (R&D) facilities has been carried out by the local MP.

Ellesmere Port and Neston MP Justin Madders was invited to formerly open overhauled laboratory works at Bevie Partners Ltd at Philip Jones House, Poole Hall Road Industrial Estate, Ellesmere Port.

“It was fantastic to be able to open the new R&D facility at Bevie in Ellesmere Port and it’s great to have a world leader in their field expanding in our town,” he said.

Bevie’s Ellesmere Port facility is at the forefront of yeast and nutrition development for the home brew and commercial brewing/distilling space, having spent almost 30 years developing products for customers across the world.

As a growing business, R&D remains a key cornerstone for the company and the investment into a new laboratory facility will bring with it additional space, analytical capability along with an increase in full-time employees.

General manager David Ditcham said: “As a growing business, R&D remains a key cornerstone for us and our investment into a new laboratory facility will bring with it additional space, analytical capability along with an increase in full-time employees.

“Bevie has grown into a global leader in home brewing from our roots as a small retailer in New Zealand. Our founders were innovators and entrepreneurs and that same spirit lives on at Bevie today.

“We move quickly to bring new and exciting products to the home beverage maker, which invigorates the hobby and helps homebrew retailers succeed.”