E-Malt.com News article: UK: Molson Coors pauses production at its microbrewery in Burton

Bosses at a Burton brewing giant have been forced to halt production at its £1 million microbrewery in the town as part of a bid to improve working conditions for staff, Burton Mail reported on April 29.

Brewing at the Molson Coors-owned William Worthington Brewery, based at the National Brewery Centre, in Horninglow Street, has been ‘temporarily paused’ while senior figures from the company work on a raft of improvements at the site.

A major review is now taking place to look at how machinery can be ‘reconfigured to make brewing, cleaning and maintenance easier’ at the brewery which opened in a blaze of glory in 2010 as the firm’s response to the burgeoning demand for cask ales.

The firm also said the process was allowing them to look at several options to ‘improve safety’ for all workers at the brewery, but were quick to stress that the site was not set to close permanently.

A spokesman for Molson Coors said: “Brewing at the William Worthington brewery has been temporarily paused.

“The on-site brewing team will be working alongside Stuart Howe, head of craft brewing and innovation, to review how brewing vessels and pipework can be reconfigured to make brewing, cleaning and maintenance easier.

“There is no specific re-start date for brewing. That said, we anticipate the pause in brewing will last weeks rather than months. We would like to stress that the brewery is not closing down permanently. We would also like to stress that no staff are facing redundancy as a result of the temporary closure.”

The firm said that it will be using existing stocks of the brewery’s beers as well at looking at brewing in other locations to ensure they ‘continue to meet our drinker’s’ and customers’ thirst for quality beers’.

Burton’s MP Andrew Griffiths said: “The microbrewery is a major asset for Burton. I hope the necessary changes can be made to improve conditions for workers in a bid to make sure the brewery stays open as its closure would be a disaster.”


30 April, 2014