E-Malt.com News article: UK: Sale of historic Kimberley brewery Hardys and Hansons has prompted fears of job losses

The 174 year-old company, which was Nottinghamshire's last surviving independent brewer, was bought by East Anglian brewing and pub group Greene King for £217 million. The takeover has angered consumer groups already bitter about a string of deals that have seen pubs change hands at ever higher prices, Eastwood Today posted June 23.

CAMRA chief executive Mike Benner urged a week ago shareholders to reject the deal. He said: "If this deal goes through, history has shown us that Hardys and Hansons' brewery and beers will not be in safe hands. We believe if the shareholders don't block this now, Hardys and Hansons will be chewed up and spat out like so many before it."

CAMRA is concerned that the acquisition of Hardys and Hansons 268 strong pub estate will take the number of pubs owned by Greene King and selling its beers to around 2,680 nationwide. They believe that such a massive presence will damage consumer choice.

Hardy and Hanson finance director David Smith said: "From the company's viewpoint the take-over is soon to be transacted at a fair price. Greene King offers a lot of potential benefits to the company and the brand." The future of the 150 staff who work at the Kimberley brewery has yet to be decided.

Mr Smith said: "Greene King have yet to establish firm plans for the future of the site. "There's a natural, general apprehension amongst our staff. I suppose these things within the industry are fairly widespread. People are just waiting to see. Greene King have made other acquisitions in the past and they have taken the companies and the brands they think they can market more widely. We would hope that the opportunities to broaden the geographic coverage will be there."

Greene King's chief executive, Rooney Anand, said: "Even if we may have had to reduce the number of breweries that we have owned, over the long haul we have grown the businesses."

Shares in Greene King rose almost 3.5 per cent to 749p while Hardys and Hansons shares jumped more than 18 per cent, to £10.44½p.


28 June, 2006