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UK: The Boddingtons Action Group is being resurrected as trade groups attempt to save the Strangeways Brewery in Manchester. Brewing giant Interbrew’s announcement of the closure of the brewery after 250 years has led to outcry from industry groups and trade unions, The Publican posted on September 16. Now the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has confirmed it will be looking to resurrect the Boddingtons Action Group. A spokesman said: “Our main mission is to prevent the brewery from closing. We want to link up with different organisations including local media and the unions.”

The group was first formed in 1989 when Whitbread bought Boddingtons, which was still a family brewery. It then played a major role in thwarting Interbrew’s plans to close the Strangeways Brewery in 2002. Last Tuesday workers at the brewery went on a 24-hour strike after Interbrew reiterated plans to shut it down, hitting 55 jobs.

Steve Cahillane, chief executive of Interbrew UK and Ireland, said the decision to close the Boddingtons brewery had been “extremely difficult”. Mike Benner, chief executive of CAMRA said: “We’re app-alled at this decision. Despite claims to be ‘the world’s local brewer’, Interbrew is riding rough- shod over British brewing.”

The Transport & General Workers Union (T&G) has also voiced its alarm at the decision. Brian Revell, the T&G’s nat-ional organiser for food and agriculture, said: “Closure of smaller breweries counts for nothing as Interbrew concentrates production in ever-larger breweries. “This is all about the maximisation of profits.”


18 September, 2004