In a move to meet demand from growers and customers alike, Highland Grain has announced that it will be increasing its drying capacity in 2008 by around 70% and thereafter increasing its dry storage capacity by 11,000 tonnes and wet storage capacity by 600 tonnes by 2012-13. The investment, which is estimated at over £1m and subject to agreed funding, will mean that Highland Grain will have dedicated malting barley drying capacity of around 45,000 to 50,000 tonnes and storage capacity close to 40,000 tonnes. In announcing the development, chairman of Highland Grain, Jim Whiteford said that the business was the victim of its own success. “We have squeezed as much as we possibly can out the existing facility”, he said, “and through prudent management and very successful marketing, we are now generating interest both to handle additional tonnage from growers and from customers who are looking for more of our product”. At its inception, in 1977, the then Black Isle Grain Group (the name changed in 1992 to Highland Grain) had a throughput of only 6,000 tonnes with 12 members and has now grown to 37,000 tonnes and 85 members.