Thwaites seeks site for new brewery
LANCASHIRE brewer Daniel Thwaites has announced plans for a “very significant investment” in a new brewery.
The Blackburn-based company plans to sell its existing 7.2 acre site in the heart of the town centre and is working with the local council to find a new home for its 300 staff.
It is working with supermarket group Sainsbury’s, which has agreed to buy the
existing site, subject to planning consent being granted for a store, and the
proceeds from this sale will help to fund the construction of the new brewery.
Chief executive Richard Bailey told TheBusinessDesk.com the move could take up to four years: : “These are exciting plans and are good news for the company and the town, but planning is going to be a critical part of the plan and it’s outside our control.”
He added: “This is a great opportunity for us to address the challenges that we face with our existing brewery and to reinvigorate our business by building a new modern and efficient brewery.
“It signals our commitment to brewing our fine ales over the longer term and
underpins sustainable employment locally.
“While we have been in the centre of Blackburn for over 200 years, times have changed and these plans allow us to lay strong foundations for the future.”
Thwaites was founded in 1807 and has been based at the Star Brewery since 1966. It operates 300 pubs and also has a small hotels business called Shire.
Last month the company posted a hike in profits to £7m on sales of £126.7m.
