Shepherd Neame commits to UK brewing as rivals sell up

Shepherd Neame, the pubs landlord and Britain’s old brewer, on Wednesday vowed not to sell-out amid a number of rivals offloading their beer arms.

Chief executive Jonathan Neame, whose family founded the firm in Kent in 1698, said: “We see a great future as one of the few remaining independent brewers [in the UK].” The company is behind brands such as Spitfire and Bishops Finger.

His comments come weeks after Fuller’s announced a shock £250 million sale of its beer division to Japan’s Asahi.

Beer volumes at Shepherd Neame fell in the 26 weeks to December 29 after a contract to brew and distribute Asahi goods under licence expired in early 2018.

Comparable sales rose 4.1% at managed pubs, and tenanted pubs had a robust underlying performance.

Neame said: “In spite of the risks associated with the imminent departure from the EU, we remain confident that our long-term strategy positions the company well for the future.”