Greene King has agreed to sell its Old Speckled Hen ale brands to the Spanish owner of Estrella lager, Damm, marking the latest takeover of a British beer by an overseas buyer. The Barcelona-based brewer will acquire all Old Speckled Hen lines, including non-alcoholic and golden ale versions.
Handover and Brewing Plans
During the sale handover period, Greene King will continue brewing the ale at its Westgate site in Bury St Edmunds. However, production will later move to Damm's brewery in Bedford, which opened last year. Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of the 227-year-old pub chain, expressed delight in securing a partner that will continue brewing the ales in the UK.
Financial Details and Availability
The companies did not disclose the sale value. After completion, Old Speckled Hen beers will remain available in Greene King pubs, major UK supermarkets, and the off-trade. Greene King plans to focus on selling its beers in its own pubs and UK on-trade, moving away from off-trade sales.
History of Old Speckled Hen
Old Speckled Hen was first brewed in 1979 by Morland Brewery to celebrate the MG Car Company's 50th anniversary of its move from Oxford to Abingdon. The beer was named after the MG Featherlight Saloon, nicknamed the "owld speckl'd un" for its mottled appearance. Greene King acquired the brand from Morland in 1999.
Trend of Foreign Takeovers
The sale continues a pattern of British beer brands being bought by foreign drinks groups. In 2015, Camden Town Brewery was acquired by AB InBev for £85m. That year, SAB Miller also bought Meantime Brewing Company, later itself acquired by AB InBev. In 2019, Fuller, Smith & Turner sold its drinks business, including London Pride, to Japan's Asahi for £250m. This year, Molson Coors announced the closure of Sharp's Brewery in Cornwall, which brews Doom Bar ale, citing financial unsustainability.
Competition and Heritage
Molson Coors also markets Madrí Excepcional, brewed in Tadcaster, Yorkshire, as "the soul of Madrid." Estrella Damm's boss, Demetrio Carceller Arce, criticized Madrí for having "no heritage whatsoever," contrasting with Damm's superior product. Several popular Spanish beers sold in the UK are brewed domestically, including San Miguel (AB InBev, Northampton) and Cruzcampo (Heineken, Manchester).
Damm's Perspective
Luke White, managing director of Damm UK, called Old Speckled Hen an iconic British ale brand with rich heritage and a 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.
