Young's can taste success with brewery move

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Young's is convinced pub customers will not be able to taste the difference when its beers move from their traditional home in Wandsworth to the...

Young's is convinced pub customers will not be able to taste the difference when its beers move from their traditional home in Wandsworth to the Eagle Brewery in Bedford.

The London brewer and pub operator told shareholders at its annual meeting that taste matching trials are well underway in preparation for shifting the brewing of ales such as Young's Special, Ram Rod and Waggle Dance to the Charles Wells operation.

Chief executive Stephen Goodyear said: "We are confident that customers will be more than satisfied by the quality of Young's beers when they are brewed by the new venture."

In May, Young's announced a deal with Charles Wells which will see production move to Bedford. The new business, Wells and Youngs, will market and distribute both brewers' beers, leaving Young's free to sell its Ram Brewery site in Wandsworth for redevelopment.

Mr Goodyear said "advanced negotiations" for the sale of the site continues, but cautioned shareholders "there is no certainty that an agreement will be reached."

Young's pubs have enjoyed the sales benefits of both the World Cup and the extended spell of good weather across its trading area. Across the first three months of the financial year, total sales are up 11 per cent in the company's 100-plus managed pubs, with like-for-likes good.

"Even though we are only a short way into the new financial year, we are encouraged by the progress we are making," saifd Mr Goodyear. Although the year ahead "is set to be a period of considerable change as we integrate our brewing activities into Wells & Young's and progress the sale of the Wandsworth site...we look forward to the future with great enthusiasm and confidence."

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