James Staughton (left) celebrated "the coming together of two like-minded businesses" with Bath Ales' Roger Jones.
Cornish beer maker St Austell Brewery has this morning confirmed the acquisition of regional brewer and pub operator Bath Ales.
The deal includes Bath Ales’ brewery, its portfolio of beer brands and its 11-strong pub estate, which includes three Graze outlets and three Beerd bars. It has been completed for an undisclosed amount, the companies said.
James Staughton, chief executive of St Austell Brewery, said: “For a long time Bath Ales has been a company I have admired and this exciting acquisition provides the coming together of two like-minded businesses.
“Bath Ales brews great beer and has a thriving pub estate, both of which complement those of St Austell Brewery, and with the acquisition we are committing to a long-term significant investment in the Bath Ales brands, pub estate, people and brewing facilities. We already operate a successful free trade business across the region, and a wholesale service to free trade customers, which will also bring additional routes to market for Bath Ales’ beers.
“As a business, St Austell Brewery has a strong commitment to Cornwall and South West England and the deal supports our strategy to strengthen and extend our presence in the Bristol and Bath region. Together St Austell Brewery and Bath Ales will deliver solid and distinctive offerings to customers combining conscious innovation, service excellence and the scaling of what works.”
Bath Ales’ range of beers will continue to be brewed at its brewery between Bath and Bristol, where a schedule of investment to expand the brewing and packaging facilities will be implemented in the coming years.
Bath Ales founder Roger Jones continued: “This is a really exciting move for Bath Ales. With the investment and broader support from St Austell Brewery we are better placed to capture the opportunity that exists for Bath Ales.
“We are confident that we can also make a strong contribution to their operations so that the combined organisation can really set the standard for quality beers and outstanding venues.
“From the first contact with St Austell Brewery we genuinely found people and an operation that have a consistent set of values and the same commitment to quality. The combined business will be a force to be reckoned with.”
The acquisition has been completed on the back of strong sales growth for Bath Ales, which grew turnover by 7% to £15.6 million. Sales of its beer brands, led by flagship brand Gem, were up 18% to more than 30,000 hectolitres – or more than 5 million pints.
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