Carlsberg UK announces joint venture with Marston’s
Brewing company Carlsberg UK and pub operator Marston’s have announced a proposed transaction to form a new joint venture beer company, Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company.
The new company will bring together the two brewers with shared values to create “significant value” for its employees, customers and consumers in the UK market.
Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company will offer a portfolio of international, national and regional beer brands, with Carlsberg lager and world beer brands, and Marston’s cask and packaged ales.
Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company will have assets including Carlsberg UK’s Northampton brewery, London Fields brewery, and national distribution centre; and Marston’s six national and regional breweries – Marston’s, Banks’s, Wychwood, Jennings, Ringwood and Eagle – and 11 distribution depots.
Under the terms of the transaction, Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company will also have access to Marston’s pub estate for its beer portfolio through a strategic, long-term supply and distribution agreement.
Carlsberg UK and Marston’s will be the sole stakeholders in Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company, with Carlsberg UK being the majority shareholder, owning 60% of the equity.
Current Carlsberg UK managing director, Tomasz Blawat, will be appointed CEO of the company with current Marston’s CEO, Ralph Findlay, appointed as non-executive chairman.
Blawat said: “We are excited to move into the next phase of our growth strategy. After a successful relaunch of Carlsberg Danish Pilsner in the UK last year, we are now building a new beer company by combining two organisations with shared values and strong history and heritage in brewing.
“Our intent for Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company is for it to become a platform for growth for all of our customers and suppliers, offering a bigger beer portfolio of complementary international, national and regional brands.”
He added: “We believe the new business will deliver even more value for employees, customers and consumers, thereby creating greater future growth potential.”
