Damm, the largest brewing business in Spain, has launched a brewery in Bedford. 

The brewer said that The Damm Eagle Brewery is its first outside the Iberian Peninsula and follows a £70m investment. 

Since first acquiring the site in 2022, the group has added a state-of-the-art canning line and an additional brewstream, which it said doubles brewing capacity to 1.8 million hectolitres per year, with a target of two million by 2027. 

Damm said that the investment in the brewery allows it to meet increasing UK demand for its flagship Mediterranean lager, Estrella Damm, which saw double-digit growth in the past year. 

It added that the modernised facility has also doubled packaging capacity, allowing the brewer to diversify into new packaging formats and beverages, with a growing focus on soft drinks and “beyond beer” options. 

The group noted that it is looking to drive local employment and support the UK economy. As part of this, it will be launching an Accelerator Programme “to support innovation, production and distribution in one smooth operation.” 

On the opening, Jorge Villavecchia, managing director of Damm, said: “Our commitment goes beyond capital investment. We are bringing skills, innovation and a vision of how industry must evolve to remain competitive: more digital, more sustainable, more resilient. This country has shown, time and again, its ability to adapt and emerge stronger from adversity. That is why we believe that our decision to invest in Bedford will contribute not only to Damm’s growth, but also to the resilience of the UK’s wider economy.” 

Jason Stockwood, minister for investment, added: “Damm’s investment is a vote of confidence in the UK and demonstrates our Plan for Change in action. The UK is proud to be the location of Damm’s first brewery outside the Iberian Peninsula.”