Anand's challenge: lets champion beer
Greene King chief executive Rooney Anand has called for brewers and real ale campaigners to "join forces" to champion British beer.
Rooney was responding to an article in the Morning Advertiser that revealed the Campaign for Real Ale's Investment Club had seen the value of its brewery stocks soar as takeover speculation boosted a number of investments.
Ironically, the Investment Club members' fund was boosted by Greene King's takeover of Hardys & Hansons, with the value of its holding climbing by £353,541 to £1,119,369.
Nevertheless, Camra slam-
med Greene King for its decision to close Hardys' Kimber-ley Brewery after the takeover.
In a letter to the MA this week, Anand said: "It is easy for Camra to criticise. They don't have to deliver returns on brewing and selling beer. We do - to the benefit of beer drinkers and licensees as well as shareholders.
"Their Investment Club is in the happy position of taking sizeable profits from Greene King and from the sale of Hardys & Hansons. It is also in the dubious position of doing this while criticising our company for stopping uneconomic operations.
"Camra should accept that there will be change in the industry and should be positive about the players who are committed to cask beer.
"Just imagine what might be achieved if all the negative column inches they generate were replaced with constructive copy supporting us. Let's join forces to champion the success of great British beer."
Investment Club spokesman Neil Kellett said last month that at least some of the profit from the Hardys & Hansons acquisition will go "into the pockets of real-ale consumers".
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