Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company (CMBC) is a British subsidiary of Carlsberg Group, created in November 2020 by the merger of Carlsberg's UK business and Marston's breweries. Marston's plc retained a 40% ownership until July 2024.
History
In May 2020, it was announced that subject to competition law and shareholder approval, Marston's plc would merge its brewing business with Carlsberg UK (the United Kingdom arm of Carlsberg Group), into a joint venture valued at £780m. Marston's took a 40% stake in the joint venture and received up to £273m in cash. The deal involved Marston's six breweries and distribution depots, but not its 1,400 pubs.[2][3] The merger was approved by the Competition and Markets Authority on 9 October 2020.[4]
Marston's announced on 8 July 2024 that it had decided to sell their 40% share in CMBC to Carlsberg for £206m in order to focus on running the pub business. Carlsberg also announced on the same day that it was buying the soft drinks company Britvic for £3.3b, merging Britvic and CMBC into a single company called Carlsberg Britvic.[5] The deal to acquire Marston's 40% stake in CMBC was completed on 21 July 2024.[6]
CMBC announced on 4 August 2024 that the head office in Wolverhampton would be converted into a block of 18 flats.[7] CMBC announced on 7 October 2024 that the Bank's Brewery in Wolverhampton would be closed down by Autumn 2025 as part of a restructuring of its' brewery network.[8] CMBC announced in November 2024 that 11 of its beers would be discontinued in pubs in the UK by the end of 2024.[9]
The brewery was one of the last major brewers to use Burton Union Sets, a system whereby fermentation barrels and troughs were linked together by pipework.[11]
Half of all the company's beer is bottled.[12] Marston's Pedigree is brewed in Burton-upon-Trent: it is a 4.3% ABV bitter.[13] Introduced in 1952, it is Marston's flagship brand, selling 150,000 hectolitres in 2010.[13] It is the only beer to use the oak Burton Union System so that it is fermented in wood; the ingredients are mineral enriched Burton Water, malted barley, and Fuggles and Goldings hops.[13]
Marston's acquired Thwaites' main brewing arm, including the Wainwright brand, in March 2015 for £25.1 million. Marston's had been brewing Thwaites' beers since early 2014 after Thwaites main brewery in Blackburn was shut down.[14]
Other beers distributed by the company include the 1664 brand, which was acquired from Heineken N.V. in June 2023.[15]
Sponsorship
From 2007 to 2017, Marston's sponsored the England and Wales Cricket Board and Marston's Pedigree was the official beer of the England Cricket team. They were exclusive beer advertisers and suppliers at home test matches.[16]
