Marston’s Raise Their Glasses As Profits Soar

As profits skyrocket, the pub and brewery group Marston’s seals a £55m acquisition deal to expand its pub business empire. Marston’s announced full-year revenue was up 8% while profit was up 24%. Revenue soured to GBP1.01 billion as profit rose to GBP100.3 million for the year ending September 30 and in franchised pubs, sales were up 1.6%.

With profits steadily on the rise, Marston’s agreed the deal to acquire the family-owned Charles Wells brewing business in Bedford that makes beers – Bombardier, Courage, Estrella and McEwan’s. Even if the £55 million deal excludes the group’s pubs, Marston’s already has pubs across Shropshire and the West Midlands with a revenue rise of 2% to £451.5 million and a jump of 61$ in pre-tax profits £36.7 million for the 26 weeks to April 1.

The group’s chief executive, Ralph Findlay announced: “Marston’s has been transformed over the last 10 years by the consistent implementation of our established strategy. In that time, we have built around 200 pubs on new sites representing 60 per cent of the destination estate today, and we have developed a leading premium pubs and bars business.

"The taverns estate has been repositioned, having sold around 1,000 pubs and introduced pioneering franchise-style agreements designed for community pubs. In brewing, we lead the premium ale market and benefit from a growing contribution from craft beers and international licensed brands, including premium European lager brands. “Our market position will be enhanced by the acquisition of Charles Wells Brewing and Beer Business and we remain confident our strategy will continue to create value for shareholders.”

With over 1,500 pubs across the UK, 60 of which are franchised, Marston’s is one of the leading pub business operators and franchisors to amass an annual turnover of £680 million and an estate worth over £2 billion. Marston’s has 130 years of successful pub retailing with an impeccable track record in transparent and ethical franchising and as model member of the British Franchise Association.