A NORTH Cornwall brewery has continued its expansion with the opening of a new cold store.
The five-month project was completed this week and was officially opened by North Cornwall MP, Dan Rogerson.
The new store will mean the Rock-based brewery can ensure that its beers are preserved in their optimum condition.
The project provides Sharp's with 495sq m of cellar space. Sharp's worked with Jon Hughes Architectural Services in Wadebridge and Bodmin-based Gynn Construction to complete the modern beer cellar which can now hold 9,600 casks.
Dave Haskell, from Sharp's Brewery, said: "The new cold store will help to ensure that the brewery can manage demand and sustain its outstanding growth. Construction ran very smoothly and we worked with a number of excellent local businesses throughout the course of the project. Sharp's is known for the quality of its beers and having a temperature-controlled cellar of this capacity allows us to do much more of what we do best."
Sharp's has seen considerable growth of cask beers, which are now available in 6,500 outlets in the UK.
The sales growth has also enabled the brewery to take on more employees, from 88 in 2011 to 113 this year.
