Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company to discontinue 11 beers amid portfolio restructuring

UK – Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) has announced its decision to remove 11 beers from its product portfolio in the UK by the end of 2024.  

The move follows a review of the company’s offerings as part of its broader restructuring strategy. 

The beers being discontinued include Banks’s Mild, Banks’s Sunbeam, Bombardier (keg), Eagle IPA, Jennings Cumberland Ale, Mansfield Dark Smooth (keg), Mansfield Original Bitter (keg), Marston’s Old Empire, Marston’s 61 Deep, Ringwood Boondoggle, and Ringwood Old Thumper. 

CMBC, known for its “unrivalled portfolio” of beers, manages globally recognized brands such as Carlsberg, San Miguel, Hobgoblin, and Brooklyn Brewery.  

The delisting decision has sparked reactions from industry stakeholders, including the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), which has expressed concerns over the impact on the UK’s brewing heritage and consumer choice. 

Gillian Hough, CAMRA’s real ale, cider, and perry campaigns director, criticized the decision, saying, “This is another example of a globally owned business wiping out UK brewing heritage. This loss of consumer choice is the inevitable outcome of a brewing conglomerate run by accountants and the bottom line.  

This is a sad and disappointing decision that puts both the history and the future of British brewing in jeopardy.” 

Hough added that while there may be opportunities for licensees to stock guest beers from local breweries, she doubts this aligns with CMBC’s plans. 

This development comes on the heels of CMBC’s July 2024 acquisition of the remaining shares in its joint venture with pub operator Marston’s for £206 million, granting Carlsberg full control of the business.  

CAMRA has since raised concerns about the merger’s long-term implications, citing the delisting of beers as evidence of its adverse impact on the UK brewing scene. 

Earlier this year, CMBC announced the closure of Banks’s Brewery in Wolverhampton, further signaling a strategic shift in its operations.  

Meanwhile, Carlsberg has expanded its footprint in Asia, acquiring 100% ownership of Carlsberg India Pvt. Ltd. and, through CSAPL’s shareholding in GBPL, 99.94% of the existing business in Nepal. 

The total purchase price for the acquired shareholdings in CSAPL and GBPL amounts to US$744m, of which approximately USD 50m will be settled through a set-off.   

Additionally, a further US$207m will be retained by Carlsberg and released depending on potential claims under the SPA. 

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.