Multinational beer giant Molson Coors Beverage Company has announced it is to close Sharp’s brewery in Rock by the end of 2026 with around 50 redundancies at the site and 150 elsewhere.
The brewery is the home of Doom Bar which has been a staple at pubs, restaurants and supermarkets up and down the country for years and is the UK's best-selling cask beer.
Since acquiring Sharp’s in 2011, Molson Coors has invested more than £20m in the brewery to expand capacity, upgrade equipment, support innovation and strengthen the portfolio.
As the brewer consults on the proposals it remains committed to the Sharp’s brands. Molson Coors is in the process of exploring a number of alternative production routes, including the possibility of producing them in partnership.
Molson Coors UK and Ireland MD Simon Kerry said: “The proposed closure of Sharp’s brewery has not been an easy decision for us to make. It has been a significant part of our UK business for 15 years, with an exceptional and committed team which takes such huge pride in their craft.
“We have invested significantly in the site and the Sharp’s brands over that time and have taken every step we can to try and avoid this outcome. However, the site is no longer financially sustainable as part of our national production network.”
With almost 90 per cent of Molson Coors on-trade customer orders now being placed through its e-commerce site, the company is also proposing to close its UK National Contact Centre in Cardiff by the end of 2026.
Kerry said: “As a brewer with more than 200 years of experience, we understand that long-term success requires decisive action in response to market evolution.
“These proposals are founded on building on our strong foundations and reshaping our business for growth.
“By making difficult choices now, we can unlock greater opportunities to invest in our business, our people and our brands to help us and our customers to grow sustainably and for the long term.
“This is clearly a very difficult time for our colleagues, and we will be doing everything we can to support our teams through this process.”
