Suffolk-based Greene King to sell Old Speckled Hen brands to Spanish brewer
The decision marks Greene King's move away from producing beer for supermarket shelves and focussing on its pubs
Greene King has struck a deal to sell Old Speckled Hen to the owner of Estrella Damm.
The decision marks Greene King's move away from producing beer for supermarket shelves, redirecting focus towards pub-centric brewing operations.
For a transition period, Damm UK will brew Old Speckled Hen and its associated brands at Greene King's Westgate Brewery in Bury St Edmunds.
This arrangement aims to maintain the beer’s supply and flavour continuity before eventually relocating production to Damm’s new Bedford brewery.
Despite brewing changes, Old Speckled Hen will remain stocked at major UK supermarkets and other retailers.
Greene King's transformation involves concentrating resources on its pubs network.
The Suffolk-based brewer, which operates 2,500 pubs, restaurants, and hotels, plans to stop supplying beers to retailers by summer 2027.
Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of Greene King, said: “Brewing beer in Bury St Edmunds to be sold in pubs is what we have been doing for more than 200 years.
“By making this core to our renewed brewing strategy, we are proposing optimising our brewing operations to focus on winning where we are strongest, delivering our beers to the pubs where our customers most love to drink them and setting Greene King up for long-term profitable growth.”
A £40 million brewery is set for construction, advancing the firm’s focus on the pub market, offering selections like Greene King IPA and Abbot Ale.
Meanwhile, Scottish Belhaven brewing operations will remain unaffected.
Damm UK managing director Luke White remarked on the partnership: “Old Speckled Hen is an iconic British ale brand with a rich heritage and loyal following, and we are proud that Greene King has chosen Damm UK to take the brand forward into its next chapter.”