Stowmarket: Muntons celebrates 50th anniversary of Yorkshire maltings

Malt and malted ingredients firm Muntons has celebrated the 50th anniversary of its maltings plant in Bridlington, Yorkshire.

The firm, which has its headquarters in Stowmarket and is a member of the EADT/EDP Top 100 listing of the 100 largest companies in Suffolk and Norfolk, invited merchants, local dignitaries, key customers and suppliers, board members, shareholders and local MP Greg Knight to a commemorative celebration at the 27 acre site.

Guy Newsam, general manager for malt at the Bridlington site, gave a presentation on the site’s history, the changes which have taken place and its positive future.

Muntons’ managing director, Alan Ridealgh, also spoke at the event and Mr Knight gave the keynote speech.

The ceremony was rounded off by Muntons chairman Paul Wells who thanked all contributors before raising a glass to celebrate the way in which Flamborough Maltings has moved with the times and is looking forward to the next 50 years.

Malting barley for the Muntons Bridlington maltings is sourced almost exclusively from East Yorkshire farms within a 30 mile radius of the plant.

The malt is then sold for use in some of the finest Scottish whiskies and for beers, together with a wide section of foods and breakfast cereals. It is also the major ingredient for malt vinegar.

Guests tasted a specially produced commemorative Glenfarclas Whisky made using a blend of single malt whiskies from each of the past five decades, which, according to its makers, is destined to become a collector’s item.

Wold Top Brewery produced five special beers, designed to commemorate each of the five decades, to celebrate the anniversary. The firm has an agreement with Muntons whereby its barley is turned into malt by Muntons and then returned to it to make its ales.