Charles Wells Pub Company has seen its sales up £1m to £189m in the year to 29 September, with profit after tax of £6m- down from £6.6m the previous year. The group, which incorporates Wells & Young's Brewing Company, Charles Wells Pub Company and France-based pub firm John Bull Pub Company, did however report it anticipated a fall in overall profit as the full effect of losing income from Red Stripe and Corona was felt. Nevertheless, the decline was mitigated with the acquisition of the McEwan’s and Younger’s brands in October 2011.
The brewing company now owns 80 per cent of its brands, as opposed to 2005 when the portfolio consisted of 80 per cent licensed brands – the company grew owned beers by 2.1 per cent in the financial year. International sales recorded another year of double-digit sales growth and an increased margin growth, up 27.7 per cent on the year. Meanwhile, the company bought four high quality sites over the year with all four licensees already running other Charles Wells brewery pubs. Turnover decreased by 4.9 per cent but like for like sales were up 1.2 per cent, with EBITDA per pub up 3.8 per cent. The business continued its planned disposal strategy with the sale of 22 pubs.
Charles Wells has made two new appointments. Justin Phillimore is appointed to the role of managing director of Wells & Young’s Brewing, the brewing and brands division of the company. Phillimore has been with the company for six years and is moving from his current role as group finance director of Charles Wells.
Andrea Holton also joins as HR director for Charles Wells from DHL where she was most recently vice president HR for UK and Ireland.