New brewer Wells & Young's aiming high
The new Wells & Young's Brewing Company starts trading next Monday with plans to increase combined barrelage by 20,000 to well over 500,000 barrels in its first year of operation.
In the process, it aims to join Greene King as one of the two brewers that it believes will dominate free trade in coming years, supplanting Wolverhampton & Dudley.
We think that although the ale market will continue to decline, there are opportunities for us to really increase our market shareManaging Director Nigel McNally.
MergerWells and Young's brewing merger in May catapulted the new company into third place amongst super-regional brewers, behind W&D's 603,000 barrels and Greene King's 540.
Previously, Charles Wells was in fourth place (350,000) and Young's in eighth (130,000).
New managing director Nigel McNally says the combined brewing group will seize opportunities to drive the real ale category and increase retail sale prices.
"We think that although the ale market will continue to decline, there are opportunities for us as an independent brewer with well-supported brands to really increase our market share.
We're aiming for a minimum of 500,000 barrels."
InvestedAs well as committing £4 million to support Bombadier and both Young's lead ales, the brewer has invested £10 million in a new Bedford warehouse and one in Croydon, South London, plus £2 million in new cask-racking.
Brewing has just moved to 24 hours a day.
Over 90 ex-Young's staff have moved to the new company - 23 in sales and marketing out of a salesforce of 71, and 70 in production - giving a total workforce of 420.
George Wright from Young's will be the ales marketing manager.
Four Young's brands have been delisted: Dirty Dicks, an export brand; Kew Brew, an off-trade seasonal; Golden Zest, an off and on seasonal; and Young's Pilsner Lager.
Young's London Bitter will retain its name even though brewed in Bedford, on the grounds that it is a defined bitter style.
