E-Malt.com News article: Ireland & UK: Budweiser moving Irish production from Dublin home of Guinness to the UK

Budweiser is moving Irish production from the Dublin home of Guinness to the UK as part of a distribution deal with Bulmers cider maker C&C, Independent.ie reported on March 5.

C&C said it was acquiring rights to market the Budweiser Brewing Group's two key assets in Ireland - Budweiser and Bud Light - from Guinness parent Diageo. Terms were not disclosed but the deal becomes effective on July 1.

At that time C&C will begin distributing Bud and Bud Light across Ireland. Production of the brands will cease at St James's Gate brewery in Dublin.

Budweiser said production for the Irish market will be transferred to two breweries in Magor, south Wales, and Samlesbury, Lancashire, in England. Both facilities are operated by Bud's parent, Anheuser-Busch InBev, and already brew Bud and Bud Light for the British market.

C&C said its facility in Clonmel, Co Tipperary - where it chiefly makes Bulmers cider - would be responsible for kegging Bud imported from the UK.

Budweiser said most, if not all, would come from the Welsh brewery.

The jobs impact at Diageo and C&C was not immediately clear.

C&C said the Clonmel kegging activity may require no extra staffing.

Diageo said it did not anticipate job losses in Dublin, as the brewery pivots to increased production of other lager brands.

Bud's departure "will present an opportunity for Diageo to focus on growing our own newer wholly-owned brands, such as Rockshore and Hop House 13, whilst also focusing on our important business with Carlsberg", a Diageo spokesman said.

For the past decade, C&C has made and distributed other brands in Budweiser Brewing Group's portfolio - including Stella Artois, Beck's, Corona, Leffe and Hoegaarden - in the UK. Some is imported here.

Diageo has brewed Bud at its St James's Gate brewery for more than two decades.

Bud once held a fifth of the Irish lager market, but it has slid in popularity amid greater competition from micro-brewers and new market entrants.


06 March, 2020