Midlands-based brewer Marston's has bought Refresh UK, which brews ales including Brakspear and Hobgoblin and has partnership agreements with Wadworth, Thatchers, Löwenbräu and Innis & Gunn. Marston's said it wants to develop a portfolio of well-established premium beer brands to complement its core range, led by Marston's Pedigree, and promised to continue brewing at Refresh's Wychwood Brewery in Witney, Oxfordshire.
Is this the start of the second wave of consolidation? Will the economic conditions forestall any further activity or will we see further deals? And where will the deals stop? Will they percolate down to the smaller craft brewers? Is there over capacity in the market? Of course there is, but can it be affected by the 10, 20, 30, 40 barrel plants?
Am I asking rhetorical questions?
No. You read it here first. Heineken will soon be the biggest UK brewer, but the indigenous brewers will retaliate.
Thursday 3 April 2008
Hobgoblin gobbled up
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