St Austell Brewery Company Ltd, one of the South West’s most successful independent brewers with 168 pubs and a portfolio of award-winning ales, has reported a 10 per cent increase in annual turnover to £116.6 million and a 7.4 per cent increase in EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) to £13.8 million in the year ended 28 December 2013.
Very encouraging performance
James Staughton, managing director of St Austell Brewery said that he was “pleased to report a very encouraging performance”, commenting that “2013 was a year of expansion for both our free trade and national sales divisions, with our own beer production increasing by 13.8 per cent in 2013.” In order to meet this increased demand St Austell Brewery have invested in both the production and operational capacity of the business.
£7.6 million invested
It had been a year of consolidation for the pub estate, both its managed and tenanted divisions had seen growth in trade in 2013. Will Michelmore, non-executive Chairman of St Austell Brewery said that the company had invested £7.6 million during 2013 on acquisitions, refurbishments and infrastructure. He further noted that the strong cash flow of the business meant that net debt had fallen from £29.5 million to £27.4 million.
Volumes increase despite weather
James Staughton reported that the first four months of 2014 had seen volumes of St Austell Brewery’s own beers increase by 16 per cent, and comparable sales in their managed estate grow by 10.7 per cent on 2013, despite the South West region experiencing some of the worst storms since records began.
About St Austell Brewery
- St Austell Brewery was named Best Regional Brewer at the Publicans Choice Awards 2013, and has a large number of other award wins under its belt.
- Its flagship Tribute Ale (4.2% ABV) was named Best Drink at the Food Reader Awards in 2013; voted the licensees’ Regional Cask Ale of the Year at the Publicans’ Suppliers Awards 2012 and is currently in the top five of the UK’s best selling premium cask ales.
- Founded in 1851, St Austell Brewery is known to be one of the oldest businesses in Cornwall and is one of only 30 Independently Family Owned Brewers in the UK.
- The company owns over 168 pubs and inns across the South West.
- It is the South West’s largest wholesale distributor of beer, ciders, wines, spirits and soft drinks, serving more than 3,000 free trade accounts, from pubs, clubs, restaurants, hotels and other licensed outlets in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Bristol.
- The company employs up to 1,000 people including part-time and seasonal staff.
- The company brews five main cask ale beer brands: Tribute, Proper Job, Trelawny, Dartmoor Best and HSD. Korev Cornish Lager is also available on draught.
- The bottled beer range consists of HSD, Tribute, Proper Job, Admiral’s Ale, Trelawny, Smugglers Vintage Ale, Smugglers Grand Cru, Clouded Yellow wheat beer, 1913 Cornish Stout and Korev Cornish lager.
- The company markets its cask ales nationally.
- The company also distributes a full range of national brands of beers and minerals and a full range of wines and spirits under the Walter Hicks label.
- The company is a recognised centre of excellence for training, accredited by the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII), offering a wide range of courses to people who work in the licensed trade.
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