Ex-Mansfield boss confirms bid for Wolves brewery
The former boss of Mansfield Brewery hopes to save his old company in the wake of the takeover battle for Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries (W&DB).
Ron Kirk has confirmed that he has put together a bid to buy the brewery and between 100 and 150 pubs, as predicted on thePublican.com on May 2.
Mr Kirk, who was managing director until 10 years ago, is joined by its former brewing director Richard Meadows. They have financial backing from a major City bank and the support of Mansfield MP Alan Meale, a former chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group.
W&DB plans to close the brewery, which it bought two years ago, as part of its restructuring to revive the business.
Mr Kirk said: "We are proposing to acquire the brewery, its associated free trade and a number of tied pubs in the Nottinghamshire area. It will secure production at Mansfield for the long-term future."
He said the new owner would preserve traditional brands, such as Mansfield Bitter, and take on new ones under licensing agreements. This would include an international lager brand.
Mr Kirk is particularly keen to build on Mansfield's historically strong freetrade business and gain listings with multiple pub operators.
If the management team can agree a deal with Pubmaster or W&DB, Mr Kirk predicted Mansfield Brewery would be re-established as a "strong regional player" in three to five years.
"These plans will ensure the continuation of a long and proud tradition of brewing in Mansfield and will result in greater consumer choice and competition," he said.
Mr Kirk, 55, worked at Mansfield from 1983 to 1991 as finance director and then managing director. Under his management, the company's performance was turned around, which led to production trebling and profits doubling.
Mansfield, which dates back to 1855, pulled out of cask ale production to focus on keg and lager until 1982. By the time of its takeover by W&DB, it had expanded its estate to nearly 500 pubs.
During the 1990s, Mr Kirk was managing director of Trent Convenience Stores and a joint venture partner in restaurant group Harry Ramsden's. He is now joint managing director of Carlisle Retail Group, which carried out a management buy-in of supermarket franchise group Alldays.
Carlisle is currently involved in Rutland Fund Management's £49m acquisition of the knitwear retail chain Edinburgh Woollen Mills from Grampian Holdings.
Mansfield's owner W&DB continues to fight a hostile takeover offer from pub group Pubmaster, which is due to be resolved by Monday August 13.
Pubmaster has said it intends to sell Mansfield Brewery and W&DB's other three breweries, Marston's, Camerons and Banks's, as going concerns.
It has raised its offer from £453m to £485m, which has prompted W&DB investors with stakes totalling nearly 17 per cent to give their backing.
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) this week gave its support to W&DB's board, warning that the takeover would lead to the deterioration of its brands Pedigree and Banks's.
It has called on the Office of Fair Trading to investigate the impact of a takeover on consumer choice and refer the deal to the Competition Commission.
Related stories:
New attack on Wolves after shares mix-up (August 3, 2001)
MPs back Wolves in fight against Pubmaster (August 3, 2001)
Call for OFT to stop Wolves takeover (July 31, 2001)
Plan to save Mansfield from Wolves axe (May 2, 2001)
