Brewer blames smoking ban
Reporter: Martyn Torr
Date published: 20 January 2010
MIDDLETON brewer JW Lees has blamed another poor summer and the continuing impact of the smoking ban introduced in 2007 for a 34 per cent drop in profits in the year to March 31, 2009.
Managing director William Lees-Jones said it had been a bad year for the industry, which was reflected in the results of both JW Lees’s privately owned contemporaries and in the major plcs in the pubs and brewing industry.
“Draught beer sales dropped by 10 per cent for the third year on a row in November,” he said.
“However, one thing we’ve been able to do as a private business is to help our tenants much earlier when others were still burying their heads in the sand.”
He added that the family shareholders were continuing to invest in the business.
The family-owned company made a pre-tax profit of £3m on sales, up by 10 per cent to £50.1m.
The firm said it is currently in talks to sign new distribution agreements with Carlsberg UK for its draught Carlsberg, Carlsberg Export and San Miguel lager brands.
Most Viewed News Stories
- 1Police continue to investigate firearms incident on Oldham street
- 2Huge housing development set to double number of affordable homes
- 3Dobcross tragedy as woman dies after being rescued from canal
- 4Nursery where ‘staff beam with delight’ and kids receive a ‘flying start’ earns glowing praise from...
- 5Sinfield is heading home for Christmas on final day of his latest mega challenge