Following the news that Marston’s has acquired the brewing business of Charles Wells for £55 million, CAMRA has issued a comment.
Tim Page, CAMRA’s Chief Executive says: “CAMRA is always concerned about any consolidation in the brewing industry as it could result in a reduction in choice, value for money and quality for beer drinkers. We’re also wary of one company increasingly controlling a larger and larger share of the market, which is seldom beneficial for consumers.
“Marston’s has a positive track record of keeping the breweries it acquires open, in situ, and in many cases investing in the sites to increase capacity, and we urge them to continue that policy. We’d also encourage them to protect the brands that they have acquired and increase the range available to beer drinkers, by continuing to supply them alongside the existing beers produced by Marston’s owned breweries.
It’s reassuring to hear that Charles Wells intends to continue brewing in Bedford, ensuring that whatever Marston’s chooses to do with the brewery and brands it has acquired, local people will continue to be able to enjoy locally brewed beers in the region.”