Marston's in £25m swoop for Thwaites' brewing business
Wolverhampton beer and pubs giant Marston's is buying the main brewing arm of historic Lancashire firm Daniel Thwaites in a £25.1 million deal.
The move includes Thwaites' best-selling Wainwright and Lancaster Bomber ales. Marston's has been brewing Thwaites' beers since early last year, after the Lancashire firm announced it was shutting down its main brewery in Blackburn.
Last summer Thwaites announced plans for a new brewery in the Ribble Valley, but today Marston's said it had bought the main brewing arm and struck a long term exclusive deal to supply all beer, wine, spririts and mineral waters to Thwaites' pub estate.
The Daniel Thwaites business, which had been brewing since 1807, will continue simply as a pub and hotels operation with a 300-strong estate.
Marston's secures both Thwaites' beers and the firm's 150-strong team of regional sales, marketing and distribution.
Marston's said that business "has shown good growth in recent years, including the acquisition of Hydes Brewery's free trade business in 2012 which increased Thwaites' business in Manchester".
