Marston's Brewery
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| Type | Public (LSE: MARS) |
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| Founded | 1890 |
| Headquarters | Wolverhampton, UK |
| Key people | David Thompson, Chairman Ralph Findlay, CEO |
| Industry | Brewing |
| Revenue | £666.1 million (2008) |
| Operating income | £161.6 million (2008) |
| Net income | £61.8 million (2008) |
| Employees | 13,164 (2008) |
| Website | www.marstons.co.uk |
| Marston's | |
| Location | Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire England |
|---|---|
| Owner(s) | Marston's plc |
| Year opened | 1834 |
Marston's (LSE: MARS) is the colloquial name for the brewer and pub operator Marston's plc (formerly known as Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries plc until 2007 when it rebranded as Marston's). The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.
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[edit] Company history
The Company was formed in 1890 as Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries by the amalgamation of Banks & Co. with George Thompson & Sons and Charles Colonel Smith's Brewery.[1] It was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1947.[1] It acquired Camerons Brewery of Hartlepool in 1992.[1]
In 1999 the Company purchased Marston, Thompson & Evershed of Burton upon Trent (including Marston's Brewery which had been founded in 1834).[1] Also in 1999 the Company purchased the Mansfield Brewery Company of Mansfield.[1]
In 2005 Marston's Brewery took over production under licence from Interbrew of Draught Bass, succeeding Coors. Later, in 2005, the Jennings Brewery of Cockermouth was also purchased and in 2007 Hampshire based Ringwood Brewery, which was established in 1978, and brews Best Bitter, Fortyniner, and Old Thumper, was acquired.[2]
In 2007 the Company changed its name from Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries plc to Marston's plc.[3]
[edit] Operations
The company now owns and operates three breweries. The Park Brewery in Wolverhampton brews Banks's, Hanson's and Mansfield beers, whilst Marston's Brewery in Burton upon Trent, and the Jennings Brewery in Cockermouth brew the Marston's and Jennings beers respectively.[4] Draught Bass is also brewed at Marston's, on behalf of InBev. The company also owns a sizeable chain of pubs, and several hotels.[5]Also the Ringwood brewery still continues operation.
[edit] Brewing methods
Marston's Brewery makes use of water from the famous Burton Well,[6] reputedly discovered by Benedictine monks in the 13th century.
Marston's is also the only remaining brewer to use Burton Union Sets; a system whereby fermentation barrels and troughs are linked together by a complex system of copper and brass pipework. The basic principle is one of preventing excessive beer and yeast loss through foaming, but the consequence is that the beer is both in contact with more wood and in contact with more beer (fermenting in a bigger volume). This results in a vastly more consistent flavour; and very little chance of a whole batch being ruined. All other large-scale brewers have abandoned this method in favour of stainless steel vats, which while they assure (through volume) a consistent flavour, do not permit the use of traditional yeast varieties. They also make selective use of the unusual double dropping process which introduces complex flavors due to a period of accelerated yeast growth.[7]
[edit] Beers
- Pedigree
- Marston's flagship beer is Pedigree, a bitter. Typically Marston's uses the standard combination of Maris Otter barley and Fuggles and Goldings hops.
- Burton Bitter
- Resolution
- Old Empire
- Marston's Smooth
- Double Drop
- Single Malt
- Owd Rodger
- Oyster Stout - Introduced in 1994 as a 4.5% standard stout marketed to accompany oysters.
- Smooth Extra Cold - 2007-2008 sponsor of England's Cricket Team.
- Ringwood Best Bitter
- Jennings Crag Rat
Banks's Original Banks's Bitter
[edit] Sponsorship
- Wrexham FC - Under the terms, the Mold Road Stand at the Racecourse Ground will be renamed the Marston's Stand, while the brewery will also become the supplier of beers to the club for sale inside the ground and also at the club's function and hospitality rooms. And recently it was revealed that Marstons would be the new sponsors of Cambridge United. Marstons have signed of sponsorship for Abbey Stadium south stand.[8]
- England & Wales Cricket Board - Marstons became the official beer of the England Cricket team after a deal in February 2007. The three year deal stipulates that Marstons will be the official supplier of beer at all home Test Matches and will have exclusive beer advertising rights.[9]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Marston's PLC website
- Marston's Beer Company divisional website
- Marston's Inns & Taverns, the managed pub estate
- Marston's Pub Company, the leased and tenanted estate
- RateBeer
