BrewDog calls in advisors to oversee sale: Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog, has called in advisers to oversee a sale that could trigger a break-up of the business. Sky News reports that the board of BrewDog has appointed AlixPartners to field interest from potential bidders. Sources said that AlixPartners had begun sounding out prospective suitors in the last few days, with a quickfire deadline for indicative offers understood to have been set. A deal could see many of BrewDog’s roughly 220,000 individual shareholders, who became investors through its ‘Equity for Punks’ scheme, left with little return from their average outlay of about £400. Others, however, made a significant return on their investment by selling their stock in previous funding rounds. The company raised about £75m overall from the sale of shares to customers, offering perks such as discounts and early access to new craft beers. Its first such crowdfunding took place in 2009, with the most recent in 2021. The business, which operates circa 70 bars, was founded in 2007 by James Watt and Martin Dickie. Propel revealed last month that Watt, who remains one of BrewDog’s biggest shareholders, was considering a bid to buy the company back, with sources indicating that he is canvassing support from financial backers. One insider said the company would now command a price tag of far less than a once-mooted valuation of £2bn, which had stoked hopes among investors of an eventual stock market listing. In 2017, TSG Consumer Partners took a 21% stake in BrewDog in a deal which implied a unicorn valuation of at least $1bn. Last year, the company lost £37m on turnover of £357m. Its four breweries – at Ellon in Scotland, as well as sites in the US, Australia and Germany – could be sold separately from the rest of the group. BrewDog said: “As with many businesses operating in a challenging economic climate and facing sustained macro headwinds, we regularly review our options with a focus on the long-term strength and sustainability of the company. Following a year of decisive action in 2025, which saw a focus on costs and operating efficiencies, we have appointed AlixPartners to support a structured and competitive process to evaluate the next phase of investment for the business. This is a deliberate and disciplined step with a focus on strengthening the long-term future of the BrewDog brand and its operations.” The company said that BrewDog “remains a global pioneer in craft beer: a world-class consumer brand, the No.1 independent brewer in the UK and with a highly engaged global community”. It said: “We believe that this combination will attract substantial interest, though no final decisions have been made. Our breweries, bars, and venues continue to operate as normal. We will not comment on any further speculation.” Last October, BrewDog announced job cuts across its business after posting a £37m loss in 2024. It was the fifth year running that the company has posted pre-tax losses – now totalling £148m. The announcement came after the departure of BrewDog co-founder Dickie and the closure of ten bars across the UK after a strategic review, with the business looking to position its bar portfolio under – “destination hubs” and “community bars” for “long-term, profitable growth”. BrewDog also rowed back on plans to become a public company as chief executive James Taylor said he was plotting a return to growth underpinned by “sensible financial discipline”. Last month, BrewDog announced it would stop making spirits at its distillery in Aberdeenshire. The company said it would halt production of its distilling brands, which include Lonewolf Gin and Abstrakt Vodka, over the coming months, but will continue selling its line of cocktails. The business said that the distillery at its headquarters in Ellon would close indefinitely after “careful consideration”.

Premium Club subscribers receive updated Turnover & Profits Blue Book: Premium Club subscribers received the updated Turnover & Profits Blue Book yesterday (Friday, 13 February), at noon. The database features 35 new companies and 154 updated accounts. The database now features a total of 1,227 companies, with 758 in profit and 469 making a loss. The Blue Book is updated each month and ranks companies by turnover, profit and profit conversion, listing directors’ earnings for the past five years. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five other databases: the New Openings Database, the Multi-Site Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who’s Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Club subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events and discounts on specialist sector reports. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club subscribers also receive exclusive opinion columns every Friday at 5pm, which include the thoughts of Propel group editor Mark Wingett and a host of industry leaders from across the sector. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

Greene King planning further restructure: Greene King, the brewer and pub operator, is preparing to cut a raft of jobs and restructure its business for the second time in two years, as tax rises and soaring costs increase the strain on the pub industry. The Times reports that the company, which runs about 2,600 pubs across Britain, is understood to be reviewing its options, with jobs across its head office and central functions potentially affected . Propel understands that no decision has been made yet on the number of roles the review will impact. The plan comes less than two years after Greene King made a swathe of jobs across its head office and field-based staff in a prior restructure that Greene King said would help the company thrive “in these challenging times”. Greene King declined to comment. Propel revealed earlier this week that Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub business, was set to start a further consultation process, which may lead to further redundancies, as it continues its transformation strategy toward a “partnership-led pub company”. Propel understands that phase one of the strategy has been completed, leading to 95 redundancies – under the circa 140 roles that were at risk, thanks to redeployment and new roles being created. Propel understands that phase two is ongoing and that a consultation process is set to begin next week in regard to circa 80 roles, with the company again looking to redeploy staff whenever possible.