Carlsberg Marstons have signed a 10 year deal to supply the Stonegate pub company. Stonegate is the UK’s largest pub co with 4,500 pubs although it is trying to off load some of its non-branded estate.
Carlsberg Marstons will now supply keg and cask to Stonegate, which suggests at best that it will be mainly if not entirely their products to be found in Stonegate pubs.
The positive side of the story is that 100 jobs will be created in a unionised employer.
The downside is a reminder that market capitalism is relentless. The Beer Orders under Thatcher were designed to limit the pub estates of larger breweries and hence promote competition and choice in pubs. That is where pub companies come from.
Now of course Carlsberg Marstons don’t actually own Stonegate, and legally cant. But it will be their products you’ll find on the bar, including no doubt a guest beer where there is one..
[…] Big Beer moves in on largest pub group […]