Pub chain Greene King has agreed to sell its Old Speckled Hen ale brands to the Spanish owner of Estrella lager, marking the latest in a series of British beers acquired by overseas buyers. Barcelona-based brewer Damm will purchase all Old Speckled Hen lines, including non-alcoholic and golden ale versions.
Sale Details and Brewing Transition
Greene King stated it would continue brewing the ale at its Westgate site in Bury St Edmunds during the sale handover period, but production will later move to Damm's brewery in Bedford, which opened last year. The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.
Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of the 227-year-old pub chain, expressed delight in securing a partner like Estrella Damm, who will continue brewing the ales in the UK. After the deal completes, Old Speckled Hen beers will still be available in Greene King pubs, major UK supermarkets, and the off-trade.
Strategic Shift for Greene King
Greene King plans to focus on selling its beers in its own pubs and the UK on-trade, moving away from off-trade sales. The company originally acquired Old Speckled Hen from Oxfordshire-based Morland Brewery in 1999.
Morland first brewed Old Speckled Hen in 1979 to commemorate the MG Car Company's 50th anniversary of its move from Oxford to Abingdon. The beer's name originated from the MG Featherlight Saloon, nicknamed the "owld speckl'd un" due to its mottled appearance.
Trend of Foreign Takeovers of British Beers
This sale continues a pattern of British beer brands being bought by international drinks groups. In 2015, Camden Town Brewery was acquired by AB InBev for about £85 million. That same year, SAB Miller bought London's Meantime Brewing Company, and AB InBev later purchased SAB Miller.
In 2019, Japanese beer group Asahi bought Fuller, Smith & Turner's entire drinks business, including London Pride ale, for £250 million. This year, US company Molson Coors announced the closure of Sharp's Brewery in Cornwall, which produces Doom Bar ale, citing financial unsustainability. Molson Coors also markets Madrí Excepcional, brewed in Tadcaster, Yorkshire, despite its Spanish branding.
Demetrio Carceller Arce, billionaire owner of Estrella Damm, criticised Madrí as having "no heritage whatsoever," stating it is a created brand with no historical roots. Several popular Spanish beers sold in the UK are brewed domestically, including San Miguel (AB InBev, Northampton) and Cruzcampo (Heineken, Manchester).
Luke White, managing director of Damm UK, described Old Speckled Hen as an iconic British ale brand with rich heritage and loyal following. He noted that the brand complements Damm's portfolio and reconnects the Damm Eagle Brewery to its historic British beer and ale production roots.
