Kmflett's Blog

Brewdog for Sale: Results & Prospects

Those interested in indy beer (or craft as it was known) can hardly have missed a story that has been all over the media today.

Consultants AlixPartners have been engaged to look at future investment in Brewdog. Of course that might mean finding someone to put more capital into the existing structure of brewery and bars.

More likely it means a sale of all or part of Brewdog. AlixPartners have appeared after some weeks of stories that James Watt was looking to buy back Brewdog. It might be suggested that so far he hasn’t raised the money. Hence AlixPartners are reportedly looking for a quick resolution the likely alternative being administration.

The first thought in all this must be for Brewdog employees, reportedly 1400. Some at least are members of Unite the Union and job protection or better than statutory severance is important here.

The second thought is that while Brewdog beers have long since ceased to be standout (which 15 years ago they certainly were) for many beyond a niche indy beer market, Brewdog is ‘craft’ beer. Its disappearance, which is possible, would hit the entire sector. If you check the beer aisle of leading supermarkets Brewdog still features significantly, Without ir the market shrinks. The equivalent is the S*n newspaper. Were it to stop print sales (in one sense on the 40^th anniversary of Wapping a reason for celebration) it would hit availability of other print papers.

Its hard not to see the current situation as the inevitable result of James Watt but there is more at stake here than him.

Scottish craft beer brand Brewdog put up for sale – BBC News