Innis & Gunn has entered administration, with C&C Group stepping in to acquire the Scottish brewer’s brand and associated global intellectual property in a £4.5 million deal. C&C said it had already been a minority shareholder and brewing partner for a number of years.
Innis & Gunn entered administration on Friday, 6 March, when Christopher Jon Bennett, Oliver Stuart Wright and Samuel Alexander Ballinger were appointed joint administrators of Innis & Gunn Holdings Limited, The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company Limited and Innis and Gunn Hospitality Group (Sco, NI and Irl) Limited.
The administrators said certain assets were sold to C&C Group as part of a pre-packaged sale, but the wider business could no longer continue to trade after coming under mounting pressure in recent months.
Founded in 2003 by Dougal Gunn Sharp, who developed his interest in brewing while working at his father’s brewery in Edinburgh, Innis & Gunn grew into one of Scotland’s best-known beer brands, building a strong presence in both the on-trade and retail sectors.
In a statement, the administrators said, “The Administrators sold certain assets to C&C Group as part of a pre-packaged sale.
“The Group, like many across the sector, has faced a number of challenges in recent months. The Administrators note that a combination of factors including a decline in consumer spending and rising cost pressures has resulted in significant margin and liquidity pressure that has meant the business could no longer continue to trade.
“It is with deep regret that redundancies will need to be made. The Administrators would like to thank all the employees of the Companies for their hard work. We will continue to support those affected at this difficult time. A small number of employees have been retained to support the orderly closure of the brewery business and the taprooms.”
Dougal Gunn Sharp, founder of Innis & Gunn, said, “Today is a very difficult day, first and foremost for the brilliant people who have worked so hard to build Innis & Gunn over the past 23 years. I’m immensely proud of everything our team achieved together, creating a distinctive Scottish beer brand enjoyed by customers at home and around the world.
“I’m deeply sorry to everyone affected – particularly my colleagues who have lost their jobs and the shareholders who believed in what we were building. It’s been a bruising process for everyone.
“While this outcome is not what any of us hoped for, I’m glad the brand has found a home with C&C Group. We’ve worked closely with the team for many years and they have the scale, distribution and experience to take Innis & Gunn forward.
“Despite today’s news, I remain incredibly proud of the brand, the beer and the community that grew around it. I truly hope the next chapter allows Innis & Gunn to fulfil the potential we always believed it had.”
C&C said the acquisition would allow the brand to be integrated into its existing operational, commercial and supply chain infrastructure, with Roger White, chief executive officer, describing it as an opportunity to save a well-loved brand and maintain supply to customers and consumers.
Roger White, Chief Executive Officer, said, “We have worked with Innis & Gunn for many years and whilst it’s under difficult circumstances, we are delighted to bring the brand fully into our portfolio. This is a compelling and highly synergistic opportunity to save a well-loved brand for which we currently brew most of the product. Our existing brewing and route-to-market platform allows us to integrate the brand effectively and quickly, supporting the ongoing supply of products to customers and consumers. We expect this Acquisition to make a small positive contribution to our overall financial performance in FY27.”
Picture: Dougal Gunn Sharp, founder of Innis & Gunn
