Industry expert launches attack on large pub companies

Beer industry expert Roger Protz has launched a scathing attack on the country's giant pub companies accusing them of conducting an "extortion racket" on small brewers.

Mr Protz, the editor of the Good Beer Guide produced by the Campaign for Real Ale, has consistently claimed that pub companies and brewing giants are squeezing small brewers out of the market by demanding large discounts on their bulk orders.

Speaking at the launch of the 2003 Good Beer Guide he said: "The national brewers are prepared to sell beer at deep discounts to the pub companies - discounts the smaller brewers cannot afford."

"The cosy duopoly of global brewers and giant pubcos has been a disaster for independent brewers" he added.

Mr Protz spoke about the Brakspear Brewery in Henley on Thames which closed this summer due to its inability to compete with the large discounted beer sold by the larger brewers.

He told those at the launch: "Brakspear is not closing because it is unsuccessful. Brakspear is producing more beer than at any time in its history, yet as a result of the rampant greed of the giant pub companies it cannot make a sufficient return on its sales to justify staying in brewing."

He confirmed that CAMRA will be making a formal complaint to the Office of Fair Trading concerning price discounting by the large pub companies.

A spokesman for the OFT said: "If anyone has evidence of anti-competitive behaviour then we will look at it."