UK: Simpsons Malt to apply for planning permission for its third plant in October or November

As many as 40 jobs could eventually be created if a new malting plant in Scotland’s Rothes receives planning permission later this year, the Northern Scot reported on June 7.

Simpsons Malt, a fifth-generation family firm established in 1862, has bought a 40-acre site near the Rothes Corde power station with the intention of building a malting plant and storage facility.

The proposed development would be the company's third plant, adding to other sites it already runs in Berwick and Norwich, which also supply craft breweries on an international scale.

The Berwick plant is the largest malting in the UK, employing 90 people.

Steven Rowley, the operations director at Simpsons Malt, explained that the company intends to apply to Moray Council for planning permission in either October or November after consulting with local people.

He said: "We already do business in the area, so this potentially seems like a logical step to save on the road miles.

"However, we're not building anything speculatively.

"We won't build a plant if we don't have the orders to justify it.

"We're very much lead by the end user."

Back in February, the company also bought WN Lindsay, which is Scotland’s leading independent grain merchant and has a grain store in Keith.

Amongst the distillers supplied by Simpsons Malt are the Edrington Group, Diageo and Chivas Brothers.

In addition, its merchanting section supplies seed and agri-products to several local farms, before buying back the grain.