RC Brewery 'to break even'

03-Feb-2011 - Last updated on 19-Jun-2013 at 10:27 GMT

Related tags Cains beer company Beer Public house

The Dusanj brothers are coming out of tough times

Owners of RC Brewery, that emerged from the collapse of Cains Beer Company, reports that it will pass the break-even mark this year.

Owners of RC Brewery, the Liverpool brewer and pub operator that emerged from the collapse of Cains Beer Company, reports that it will pass the break-even mark in its current financial year — three years after the Dusanj brothers bought the business out of administration.

The company is set to achieve a 75% increase in turnover this year compared to the first financial year after administration in the wake of winning new canning contracts and tapping into export markets.

Sudarghara Dusanj told the Morning Advertiser: "We're on course to pass the break-even mark this year. It's a very tough market but we have the full support of our bank." The company lost £1.8m on turnover of £18m in the first full year to September 2009. In its most recent year it lost £890,000 on turnover of £24.6m.

This year, ending in September, it's on course to chalk up sales of around £32m, which is likely to push the company into the black.

Exports

Dusanj said: "We lost contracts in the first year after administration but we are now the UK's number one contract own-label brewer and are set to produce 100 million cans this year. We've been picking up the contracts that we lost in the administration process."

RC Brewery has also been tapping into export markets. Two shipments of beer were exported to the United States over Christmas — and a third order left the brewery this week. The company has also seen its products listed in Morrisons, Asda, the Co-op and Tesco — the majority of supermarkets in Merseyside stock its beer.

British lager

The Dusanj family originally acquired Cains in 2002. The business encountered problems after the reverse takeover of Honeycombe Leisure.

RC Brewery currently runs two managed pubs and seven tenanted pubs. Sudarghara said: "We're even more hands-on than before and we've got a great team at Cains. We have a great brand and a great product — and there's definitely a market for a great British lager."

The Dusanj brewers applied to join the Independent Family Brewers of Britain a few years ago — and were told they had to spend 10 years in brewing to be eligible to join. The 10th anniversary of Cains ownership passes on 2 July 2012.

"We're looking forward to re-applying for membership," said Sudarghara.