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A Paddock Wood company that produces hop oils for the brewing industry is expanding.
Totally Natural Solutions (TNS) has just opened a new warehouse with Greg Clark, the MP for Tunbridge Wells, cutting the tape before taking a tour of the premises.
At 6,500 square feet, the warehouse allows for 500 pallet spaces supported by investments in stock control systems.
This will allow TNS to respond quickly to its increasing export sales to markets in the USA and Asia.
The firm employs 30 staff having begun as a start-up only eight years ago.
The company was set-up in in 2013 by Colin Wilson, who had previously been operations director with Barth Haas, the world’s largest supplier of hop products.
Nathan Biginton, who joined the company in March, is the new warehouse manager.
Mr Wilson said: "Since joining the firm, Nathan has taken the lead on the project to expand our stock management and storage facility.
"He has been working to create optimal conditions for our hops to be stored to ensure they receive VIP treatment before and after being turned into our exceptional hop oils.
“The new warehouse is the first of many major developments in our ongoing expansion plans for TNS. Some of the team have already moved over to the warehouse as we have outgrown our current space."
Mr Clark said: "It's fantastic to see this new facility and to hear from the team behind an astonishing breakthrough in the traditions of hop growing and marketing in Kent.
"The possibilities of hop oil being used by craft brewers and major brewers is almost infinite and it's tremendously exciting to know that such a creative and scientifically innovative company is based in my constituency."
TNS provides its innovative hop oil and natural bittering extracts to the brewing industry, but its oils can also be used in a range other products, such as beauty and skin care, gin and other spirits, and to improve flavour and baking.
TNS uses a natural process of oil extraction to obtain the aroma and flavour profiles from hop cones - no chemical solvents or additives are involved.
The natural extracts can be used to replace the use of hop cones and pellets in the brewing process.