Fuller's: SIBA has snubbed us
One of the big three brewers excluded from full membership to the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has labelled the decision a snub.
The move to exclude Fuller's, Shepherd Neame and Marston's, was taken by SIBA members at its AGM last week.
Fuller's Beer Company managing director John Roberts said it was "disappointing, effectively saying we don't want you".
He added: "Having effectively got to a point where there's one body representing cask ale brewers, they break that up.
"SIBA is preoccupied with its own political agenda at a time when we should be uniting to help the industry, rather than splitting up into segments."
The other two brewers are understood to be reviewing their memberships.
At the AGM in Stratford-Upon-Avon on Friday, SIBA members unanimously agreed to limit full membership of the organisation to brewers producing fewer that 200,000 hectolitres per year.
Fuller's, Shepherd Neame and Marston's, whose production exceeds this threshold, have been allowed to remain as associate members, a status under which they will be denied voting rights.
Micro and regional brewers had been concerned that larger members, especially those owning sizeable pub estates, could exert undue influence.
However, another big brewer embraced the new conditions. Caledonian has become the first brewer to apply for associate membership. It is owned by the Heineken Group, which produces volumes above the threshold.
Managing director Stephen Crawley said: "We are applying to join SIBA because we see exciting opportunities to work with other member brewers in pursuit of a bright future for British beer. From our perspective, the clarification of SIBA membership status is welcome and will enable larger brewers like us to become part of this thriving organisation, without any ambiguity about our role within it."
SIBA chairman Peter Amor said: "What we want is to be a unified industry but we can't have a situation where smaller brewers are feeling overshadowed. We are not knocking anyone out of SIBA; this is a way of working together more effectively."
