Doom Bar maker Sharp’s Brewery set to close – 50 jobs at risk | UK | News
One of Cornwall’s best-known and largest breweries, a popular brewery, is set to close. American owner Molson Coors Beverage Company has announced plans to close Sharp’s Brewery at the Rock and has launched a formal consultation process with employees.
The site is known as the birthplace of the Doom Bar, which has become a staple in pubs, restaurants and supermarkets across the UK and remains the country’s best-selling cask ale. Since taking over Sharp’s Brewery site in 2011, Molson Coors has spent more than £20 million expanding capacity, modernizing equipment, increasing product innovation and strengthening the overall Sharp product range.
The company stated that the proposal to close the facility was only made after examining all possible alternatives, concluding that the facility could not be made financially viable in the long term.
It said the plan, which is currently subject to consultation, comes at a time when the market is changing and the broader category is evolving, revealing the need to streamline UK and Ireland operations to improve efficiency and reduce costs to support long-term growth. If implemented, the changes could lead to the loss of around 200 jobs across Molson Coors’ UK and Ireland business.
Simon Kerry, Managing Director of MCBC UK and Ireland, said: “The proposed closure of Sharp’s Brewery has not been an easy decision for us to make. It has been a key part of our business in the UK for 15 years, with an outstanding and committed team who take great pride in their craft.
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“We have made significant investments in the site and the Sharp brands during this time and have taken every step we could to avoid this outcome. However, the site is no longer financially sustainable as part of our national production network.
“Our focus now is to support our Rock-based colleagues throughout this process in any way we can.”
The company says its commitment to the Sharp brand remains unchanged as it progresses through the consultation process. Molson Coors is currently evaluating several alternative ways to continue production, including the option of partnering with another manufacturer to produce beer in the future.
