BREWER Shepherd Neame is set for expansion with the announcement that it wants to boost its production capability. It has applied for permission to replace two 250-barrel conical fermenting vessels with three 480-barrel vessels. With a barrel equating to 288 pints the long-term prospects for the firm look promising.

A spokesman said: "It will not create any jobs but it augurs well for the future as far as jobs are concerned." Currently there is an annual production of 200,000 barrels from its 67 fermenting vessels of varying sizes that are packed into the five-acre site.

Production director Ian Dixon said: "More fermenting vessels means we can brew more beer, which we need to do because of the sales success of our beer, such as Spitfire, which is now the fastest growing draught premium ale brand in the country. And the number of different beers we are brewing continues to increase. As well as our own brands we now brew five beers under licence, such as Oranjeboom, Pilsner, Hurlimann Stern Brau and Holsten Export, which we started producing late last year."