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Marston’s Plc To Dispose Of 40% Stake In Brewing To Become A Focused Pub Business Marston’s PLC has announced the sale of its remaining non-core brewing assets to create a business entirely focused on pubs, with a binding agreement to sell the whole of its 40% interest in Carlsberg Marston’s Limited (“CMBC”) to a subsidiary of Carlsberg A/S (“Carlsberg”) (the “Transaction”) for £206 million in cash. The firm, which has brewed beer in Wolverhampton since 1875, announced on Monday that it sold its stake in Carlsberg Marston’s Limited (CMBC), a joint venture valued at £780m, to Carlsberg. Chief executive officer of Marston's Justin Platt said the sale to the Danish brewing company "significantly reduced" Marston's debt. The group will now focus on running about 1,370 pubs, which it operates across England, Scotland, and Wales. Marston's and Carlsberg announced a merger in May 2020 to form CMBC, in a move which involved Marston's six breweries and distribution depots, but not its pubs. However, Marston’s said it would continue its "strong partnership" with CMBC through the long-term brand distribution agreement which remains in place. The Campaign for Real Ale has said it is fearful about the future of UK beers, brands and breweries following the announcement that Marston’s is selling all its remaining ‘non-core’ brewing assets to a subsidiary of Carlsberg, to focus on running pubs. The sale comes after Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company introduced its ‘Fresh Ale’ concept earlier this year. ‘Fresh Ales’ are kegged versions of cask beers, served through traditional handpumps at the bar reserved for cask conditioned beer. CAMRA slammed the move as misleading to consumers and damaging to traditional cask ale, while also reporting the brewing giant to Trading Standards. Commenting on Marston’s selling the remainder of its brewing operations, CAMRA Chairman Nik Antona said: “This is a worrying development for Britain’s brewing heritage with Marston’s remaining brewing assets being transferred to a global brewing business which has already presided over the closure of historic breweries like Jennings in Cumbria and Charles Wells Eagle in Bedford, stopped selling cask ale in Scotland and has introduced an extremely damaging ‘fresh ale’ concept which is misleading to pubgoers and threatens the future of British cask conditioned ale. “CAMRA fears that this announcement could lead to a further erosion of the UK’s rich brewing history for the benefit of conglomerate global brewers – and particularly the commitment to brewing cask. The consolidation of the brewing industry into just a few large, international players erodes our brewing heritage, consumer choice, the diversity of beer in pubs across the country and the access to market for small, independent producers. “Having Marston’s pubs continuing to be subject to an anti-competitive supply tie by Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company is also a cause for concern, limiting choice for customers …

Independent Brewing Sector Sees Strong Sales And Demand But Financial Pressures And Market Access Restricting Growth Figures released today show the total number of breweries in the UK has continued to decline despite the sector reporting strong sales, with a -29 net closure rate across the UK and no region in growth for the second consecutive quarter. The figures released today by the SIBA UK Brewery Tracker show the total number of active UK breweries now stands at 1748, a -29 net drop since the end of Q1 2024. The SIBA UK Brewery Tracker takes into account all brewery openings and closures to give an accurate picture of the number of active brewing businesses. The figures make for sobering reading, with small independent breweries struggling against rising costs and legacy Covid debt despite strong sales in the sector; production volumes now having returned to pre-covid levels and cask beer production being in double digit growth*. “Independent brewers are reporting good sales growth and strong consumer demand, yet breweries continue to close. For most breweries the challenge is financial pressures from rising costs and market access, as well as lingering Covid debt – something SIBA has strongly lobbied Government for help on.” Andy Slee, SIBA Chief Executive. With the price of a pint at an all-time high independent brewers cannot pass significant price rises in raw materials, energy and production on to their customers, making access to market and help with financial pressures the most pressing factors in helping brewery numbers stabilise. “Where independent beers are stocked they sell well. They just need more opportunity to do so.” Andy Slee added. Examining the figures regionally it is clear the Midlands were by far the worst hit in the second quarter 2024, with a Net closure rate of -11, followed by the East and South West who each saw a -4 net closure rate. Scotland, the North East and the South West faired only slightly better, each posting a -3 net closure rate. The East and North West experienced a more moderate -1 net change, with Northern Ireland and Wales both maintaining their brewery numbers during the second quarter, with no change to their net figure. Read More:

The Nero Group, the family-owned and operated premium coffee house business behind Caffè Nero, has announced new partnerships with Waitrose & Partners and John Lewis Partnership. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gkMbhKTJ #FMCG #Grocery #Supermarkets #NZSupermarkets #SupermarketsNZ #NZGrocery #GroceryIndustry #GroceryRetail

Interesting industry update from SIBA, The Society of Independent Brewers and Associates. Whilst its good to see that independent brewers are reporting strong sales and demand; it is concerning that operating costs are a becoming an increasing challenge. If you are looking to lower input costs, please reach out to see how an IGC CO2 Pressure Vessel can help. A key benefit of an IGC CO2 Tank is the flexibility to purchase gas from any supplier in the UK based on your desired price point. #SIBA #IndependentBrewers #PressureVessel #Flexibility

Explore the latest regulatory landscape of the UK wine and spirits market with Sid Patel, CEO of IBWSS and Beverage Trade Network, in an insightful discussion with David Richardson, Regulatory & Commercial Affairs Director at Wine and Spirit Trade Association. In this must-watch video, David Richardson provides invaluable updates on current regulations impacting the industry while offering insights into the future of regulatory frameworks for spirits and wine in the UK. If you are a brand looking to export into the UK, this session is packed with essential information to navigate the regulatory landscape effectively. **About IBWSS UK** The International Bulk Wine and Spirits Show is an annual trade show and conference, open to trade professionals only, which takes place in London, UK. IBWSS visitors are buyers looking to meet up their demand for bulk wines, bulk spirits, private label programs, grape buying or contract manufacturing. IBWSS UK will give supermarkets, retailers, restaurants, wineries, distilleries, and other buyers a premier international platform to source bulk wine and spirits and meet private label suppliers.

Suppliers can help keep operators keep one step ahead of volatile costs, especially when many are looking at increasing menu prices to compensate. The Caterer's Business Leaders survey breaks down exactly how it's done https://lnkd.in/e9MzhPmw

https://lnkd.in/eErtdKHz Nick Green Ltd are a specialist consultancy to FMCG businesses. Perhaps of little surprise that our attention was caught by the recent article in the Food Manufacture authored by William D. In a marketplace where their has been a shift to buying own branded goods, its good to see a business like Premier Foods being able to continue to grow their branded portfolio of products. This of course is testament to the leadership and strategy set by Alex Whitehouse, CEO who has been able to ensure good performance of their heritage brands in challenging UK consumer market conditions. What is clear to see is with the right growth model, success can be achieved and sustained. Nick Green Ltd spend a lot of time advising and supporting FMCG clients to see 'What is possible' and then helping them to realise it and so I wonder just how many other established brands or even newer players in the segment can learn from this winning strategy in a crowded marketplace. A question of curiosity: Given their strong trading performance how acquisitive will Premier Foods be over the next 12 months and who could there targets be ? #fmcg #fastmovingconsumergoods #mergersandacquisitions #growthstrategy #privateequity

A number of food and drink businesses in Scotland have been awarded funding from a new grant developed to support Scotland’s foodservice sector. #Scotland #reformulation #foodindustry

As a Scottish supplier to the whisky industry, McLaren Packaging wants to help its customers make the right sustainability choices. Donald McLaren says in our Scotch whisky supplement how that is one of the key objectives of the family business. He says: “Sustainability is very broad and not well defined. For some it could mean a low carbon footprint and for others it could be providing benefits to society. Our business approaches sustainability holistically and in all its forms." Read more here 👉 https://lnkd.in/e7QcCcwX #AD #scotch #sustainability

Beer From Independent Breweries Returns To Pre-Pandemic Levels A new report published today shows average beer production volumes amongst independent breweries have risen by 14% compared to 2023, returning to pre-pandemic levels for the first time in 4 years. Cask beer has also seen a big increase, with volumes up 10% year-on-year, according to the SIBA Independent Beer Report 2024. New surveying data of hundreds of independent craft breweries forms a key part of the findings in the SIBA Independent Beer Report 2024, which also features industry analysis and commentary, as well as specially commissioned consumer research via YouGov. It was this YouGov research which showed a growing consumer pull for independent craft beer, with 55% of beer consumers saying they now drink local craft beer, up from 47% who said they drank it in 2023, placing it on level-pegging with Global lager. “Demand for local, independently brewed beer in the UK is strong, with independent brewers reporting production volumes up by fourteen percent, meaning they have returned to 2019 volumes again. The short-term issue for small independent breweries isn‘t demand; it’s profitability, rising costs and financial pressures such as lingering Covid debt. Far too many breweries are simply trying to survive rather than thrive, so whilst there are many positives signs highlighted in the report, for now it’s cautious optimism.” Andy Slee SIBA Chief Executive. The SIBA Independent Beer Report highlights 43% of independent brewers citing ‘survival’ as their top priority, though this is significantly down (-20%) from 2023 where a majority of 63% were just trying to survive. Another red flag for the beer industry are the figures showing just 30% of 18-24-year-olds ever drink beer, falling behind wines and spirits, and almost a quarter of consumers (24%) say they never visit their local pub. The report also tracks brewing trends, such as which beer styles breweries are producing - most notably lager has continued its rise up the charts to number 4 this year, with 56% of independent brewers now producing a craft lager, up +5% on the 2023 year’s survey and the biggest growth category for 2024. Also on the up is non-alcoholic beer, with a +2% growth taking the number of breweries now making an alcohol free beer to 8% . “No and low alcohol beer is massively increasing in popularity and thanks to new technologies which make it easier to produce great -tasting low or no alcohol beer more independent breweries than ever are catering to this growing market.” Andy Slee, SIBA Chief Executive. At the top of the table British classics Stout, Best Bitter, and Pale Ale hold the first three places respectively, showing the demand for traditional beer styles remains strong. 5 CAUSES FOR OPTIMISM - SIBA members are reporting beer production volumes up +14% since our last report, overtaking pre- pandemic levels for the first time, with cask volumes up +10% year-on-year. - 65% of SIBA members …

Lion Brewery PLC: Financial Review as at 31st March 2024: The economic pressures continued during the quarter under review, with excise taxes increasing by 14% in January 24, which was on top of a 20% duty hike in July 2023 for the 23/24 financial year. VAT was also higher by 3% vs prior year quarter. The escalation in price of alcoholic beverages has brought further […] The post Lion Brewery PLC: Financial Review as at 31st March 2024 appeared first on LankaBIZ.