Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company (CMBC) is the British subsidiary of Carlsberg Group, operating multiple breweries. It was founded by a merger of Carlsberg's existing UK operations and Marston's plc brewing operations, the latter of which had a 40% share in the business from the entity's founding in November 2020 until July 2024.
 | |
| Company type | Limited company |
|---|---|
| Carlsberg Marston's | |
| Industry | Brewery |
| Predecessor | Carlsberg UK • Brewery business of Marston's plc |
| Founded | November 2, 2020[1] |
| Headquarters | Wolverhampton, England, UK |
| Owner | Carlsberg Group |
| Website | www |
History
editIn May 2020, it was announced that subject to competition law and shareholder approval, Marston's plc would merge its brewing business with Carlsberg UK (the United Kingdom arm of Carlsberg Group), into a joint venture valued at £780m. Marston's took a 40% stake in the joint venture and received up to £273m in cash. The deal involved Marston's six breweries and distribution depots, but not its 1,400 pubs.[2][3] The merger was approved by the Competition and Markets Authority on 9 October 2020.[4]
It was announced on 8 July 2024, that Marston's had decided to sell their 40% share in CMBC to Carlsberg in order to focus on running the pub business, in a deal valued at £206m. Carlsberg is also buying the soft drinks company Britvic and will combine it with that of CMBC. This does however leave the future of brewing in Wolverhampton in question and also the location of the head office. A review of the business will take place once the sale is completed and the company will notify stakeholders and employees of the future of the business when appropriate.[5]
Operations
edit
The company owns and operates three breweries:[6]
- The Bank's Brewery in Wolverhampton.
- The Marston's Brewery in Burton upon Trent.
- The Carlsberg Brewery in Northampton.
Brewing methods
editThe brewery was one of the last major brewers to use Burton Union Sets, a system whereby fermentation barrels and troughs were linked together by pipework.[7]
Beers
edit
Half of all the company's beer is bottled.[8] Marston's Pedigree is brewed in Burton-upon-Trent: it is a 4.3% ABV bitter.[9] Introduced in 1952, it is Marston's flagship brand, selling 150,000 hectolitres in 2010.[9] It is the only beer to use the oak Burton Union System so that it is fermented in wood; the ingredients are mineral enriched Burton Water, malted barley, and Fuggles and Goldings hops.[9]
Wainwright is one of the company's best-selling beers and is brewed at the Banks's Brewery in Wolverhampton. It is a 4.1% ABV golden ale named in honour of the famous fell walker and author Alfred Wainwright. Marston's acquired the brand from Thwaites in 2015. In 2016, the Thwaites branding was dropped and the beer was rebranded "The golden beer".[10]
Other beers distributed by the company include the "1664" brand, which was acquired from Heineken N.V. in June 2023.[11]
Sponsorship
editFrom 2007 to 2017, Marston's had a sponsorshop agreement with the England and Wales Cricket Board, whereby Marston's Pedigree was the official beer of the England Cricket team. Marston's was the official supplier of beer at all home test matches and had exclusive beer advertising rights.[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Our History". Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ "Marston's and Carlsberg UK announce £780m merger". BBC News. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ Rob Davies (22 May 2020). "Brewers Carlsberg UK and Marston's announce merger | Business". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ Pugh, James (9 October 2020). "Regulator approves Carlsberg's £780m joint venture with Marston's". Express & Star. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- ^ Corser, John (9 July 2024). "Beer giant fails to commit to future of Wolverhampton brewery after Marston's sale announced". Express & Star. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ "Our locations & breweries". Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ Hornsey, Ian Spencer (1999). Brewing. Royal Society of Chemistry. p. 127. ISBN 978-0-85404-568-6.
- ^ "Marston's unveil new £7.4m bottling line". Burton Mail. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ^ a b c Oliver, Garrett (2011). The Oxford Companion to Beer. Oxford University Press. p. 573. ISBN 978-0-19-536713-3.
- ^ "Marston's in £25m swoop for Thwaites' brewing business". Express & Star. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
- ^ "Northampton-based Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company and HEINEKEN UK announce UK deal for Kronenbourg 1664". Northampton Chronicle and Echo. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ "Marston's renews as official beer of England cricket team". sportspromedia.com. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2015.