February 14, 2025
Glen Road entrepreneur turns beer obsession to help underprivileged communities

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The West Belfast young man behind one of the UK’s fastest growing independent beer brands is coming home to inspire the city’s future entrepreneurs.

Alan Mahon, the 33-year-old founder and CEO of Glasgow-based Brugooder, will talk about how his passion for beer and helping disadvantaged communities came to be at a special free event at the Innovation Factory on Springfield Road on Friday 15 September. Building on this impactful brand, which is set to double its sales to £4million this year.

At the Brewing Ideas and Crafting a Business seminar, sponsored by Belfast City Council, Innovation Factory and Pacem, Alan will explain how the company’s ethical purpose has been an integral part of its growth and continues to make it one of the UK’s fastest growing beer brands Is. ,

The Glen Road man said: “We don’t see ourselves as a craft beer brand – we are an influencer brand in beer. Because we make beer to empower the lives of others, we are supported by a loyal community of customers who love our beer and the ethos behind the business. People want products with sustainability and ethics. The more beer we sell, the more projects we can support, Flywheel creating a great experience.”

Allen’s journey began when he fell ill from drinking contaminated water in Nepal, and it inspired him to create a business that would fund clean water projects with every beer sold. He launched the company on World Water Day in 2016, along with friend and business partner James Hughes.

The company has now impacted the lives of 170,000 people in 15 countries by providing over 200 million liters of clean water. The company was awarded ‘Best for the World’ by B Lab as one of the highest rated B-Corp brands in the world in 2019, 2021 and 2022.

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Innovation Factory to host talks on 15 September

A new collaboration with Brooklyn Brewery includes the use of the West African grain fonio, making this the UK’s first ‘large-scale’ fonio grain beer, but also a product that gathers learnings to create a more sustainable brew. does.

The company also formed The Brogooder Foundation at the outset of its launch in 2016, which is supported by an independent board of trustees and experts and funds inspirational projects that help empower communities and create more than one million lives by 2030. Aims to enable opportunities for people.

Returning to his home in Belfast, Alan will provide inspiration and practical advice to those looking to start or grow their own business.

“Belfast is a very different city to when I left Northern Ireland in 2008 to go to university in Glasgow. There are more opportunities for entrepreneurs now and we have a tremendous amount of human capital and potential in the city. This is a really great moment to do, support and enable, but with an added focus on scaling up exciting new ideas,” he said.

Neil Allen, Director of the Innovation Factory Centre, said: “Belfast is a hub of innovation and creative new ideas and Allen will share his experiences of building and growing a global brand with a clear message and positive impact on society. Home of Entrepreneurship in West Belfast As such, The Innovation Factory is the perfect place to tell this incredible story that will inspire young entrepreneurs to pursue their business dreams.

To book a place at this free event, click here.

Do you have anything to say on this issue? If so, submit a letter for publication to Connor McParland at [email protected] or write to editor Anthony Neeson. Andersonstown News/North Belfast News, Teach Basil, 2 Hannastown Hill, Belfast BT17 0LT

Source: belfastmedia.com

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