Lancaster Brewery records 88% increase in profits
The brewer and operator, which owns venues across Lancashire and Cumbria, including the Brewhouse & Tap and the Sun Hotel & Bar in Lancaster; the Mill at Ulverston; and the Duke of Edinburgh in Barrow; filed record pre-tax profits of £667,102 in 2017-2018.
The impressive figures have been largely attributed to improvements made to the brewing plant over the past seven years, which have improved quality levels and boosted sales of its cask and bottled beer across the UK and overseas.
The group has continued its policy of investing around 80% of its profits into venue improvements, long-term debt repayment and exploring new brand ventures, with a number of the brewery’s venues renovated in the past year.
Superb year
Lancaster Brewery’s director Phil Simpson commented: “We’ve had another really good year in an increasingly competitive and complex market.
“We now employ around 130 dedicated individuals and, together, we have developed a positively robust and progressive company.
“While we have seen record profits this year, we will put nearly all of that right back into the business, as we have done in previous years.
“Our aim has always been to be the best in terms of product and service, it’s worked quite well to date, so we’ll continue with our simple but impossible hunt for perfection.”
Co-director Matt Jackson added: “The brewery has had another superb year.
“Our overall sales were up 11% and profit increased by over 30%, which is, ultimately, all down to the quality of our beer.
“We are blessed with a fantastic brewery and a fantastic team; from our brewers to the sales team, our delivery drivers and the management.
“Everyone is committed to making Lancaster Brewery something we can all be proud of and we genuinely believe that, in terms of beer quality and consistency, there are no better breweries in the north of England.”
