Brewer Thwaites announces good results
Brewer Daniel Thwaites has announced good results for the last six months.
It said its recent investment had been rewarded and the introduction of new blonde beer - Daniel's - together with the growth of Kaltenberg HELL and Lancaster Bomber had seen sales growth of 29 per cent for the half year.
Operating profit declined 7.7 per cent, a £0.9m reduction - which Thwaites said was "reflective of the drop in the overall UK beer market in their Granada TV heartland".
Although the figures show a fall in profit, Daniel Thwaites managing director Brian Hickman said: "The issues facing brewers in recent times have been well documented, with the market being impacted across the board by factors like legislation change and rising utility costs.
"At Thwaites we have continually stressed our commitment to continued investment for the long term, and despite the tough trading environment we have been true to that pledge, and we are starting to see the benefits coming through.
"There was a substantial cost implication to the recent conversion of some of our managed estate to leased and tenanted, but this is already showing itself to be a success with new lessees attracted to Thwaites and boosting the business.
"The success stories of Kaltenberg HELL and DANIEL'S have proved this to be the case, and Thwaites Lancaster Bomber has shown that great cask ale is still the building block for success in the brewing industry."
Thwaites said it had ring-fenced a budget to ensure its pubs maximised the "opportunities that arise from the impending smoking ban".
Hickman added: "Almost £2 million has been allocated to deal with issues connected with the smoking ban, including the design and testing of external smoking areas.
"And as 2007 sees Daniel Thwaites celebrate 200 years of trading, the brewery history will shine through with cask ale being the key to our celebrations.
