Brewer Hardy sees profits rise

NORTH West contract brewing and packaging group Thomas Hardy Holdings, which has sites in Kendal and Warrington, has reported a surge in sales and profits.

The strong trading performance for the year to the end of September was be overshadowed by the death of founder and managing director Peter Ward last December aged 67.

Mr Ward, a former executve director at national brewer Courage,  led a management buyout of Dorset-based brewer Eldridge Pope in 1997, before agreeing a second deal, this time with Warrington-based Burtonwood Brewery to manage its brewing operations in 1998.

The business is now run by long-serving finance director Neil Voss, and Mr Ward’s son Chris, who was an accountant and City adviser in London before joining the business in 2008.

Mr Voss said: “It is very much business as usual. Peter’s shares have passed to his wife Rae, a fellow Thomas Hardy Holdings director.”

Thomas Hardy brews and packages beers under contract for customers such as national brewers Scottish & Newcastle and Carlsberg.  

Profits in the year rose 50% from £1.7m to £2.6m on turnover of £45.9m, up nearly 14% from £40.3m in 2010.

The company, which has 144 staff, also packages wines and spirits, ciders and soft drinks.

In their review of the business, Thomas Hardy’s directors said they were “delighted” with the strong results, achieved in challenging economic conditions.

“The future prospects of the group continue to look good with profits forecast to continue over the coming year,”