Mon 10th Dec 2018 - Ossett Brewery sells 50% stake Ossett Brewery sells 50% stake to private investor: Yorkshire-based Ossett Brewery has sold a 50% stake to a private investor. The deal, for an undisclosed sum, includes Ossett Brewery and its 26 retail sites – 19 traditional pubs and restaurants, four bars trading as The HOP that focus on ale and live music, recently formed new business Salt Beer Factory and its own city centre bars under the Craft Asylum brand. Mark Hunter is the new co-owner of the company and will take a seat on the board but will not form part of the day-to day operational management team. The brewery will continue to be led by co-owner and pub company founder Jamie Lawson. Brewery founder Bob Lawson will remain as non-executive chairman. Hunter is new to the industry of brewing and pubs and is co-founder of Leeds-based software company BJSS. Ossett Brewery said Hunter brings strategic experience at board level after growing BJSS into a global leader in its field with clients including the NHS, government departments, leading FTSE companies as well as platforms for the Paris and Vienna stock exchanges. Employing more than 1,000 people, BJSS has grown organically and operates from offices located across the UK and the US. Jamie Lawson said: “Since my father founded the brewery in 1998 and I founded the pub company in 2003, we have grown beyond all recognition and merged into one group in 2016. Taking on a business partner with Mark’s experience at this time will provide funding and knowledge for the next, really exciting chapter of our growth. Our strategy is to take advantage of our newly developed and modernised brewery in Ossett through increased production while growing our freehold Ossett pub estate. Salt Beer Factory, based in the UNESCO village of Saltaire, will begin canning its own products in 2019 with exciting new IPA and lager products launched in keg and canned format. We also plan to open Craft Asylum sites next year after the success of the first two sites in Leeds city centre.” Licensed property agents Simon Hall, of Fleurets, and James Boshier advised the parties on the transaction.