Greene King has agreed to sell the Old Speckled Hen brand to Damm UK, the owner of Estrella Damm, as it shifts its focus to pub operations and gets set to shut brewery
Greene King has sealed a deal to sell Old Speckled Hen to the owner of Estrella Damm as it pivots away from brewing beer for supermarket shelves. The transaction is also anticipated to result in the eventual shuttering of the brand’s Westgate Brewery in Bury St Edmunds in the long run, though Greene King is constructing a fresh facility in the town.
Damm UK, the British division of Spanish brewing giant SA Damm, has agreed to acquire the Old Speckled Hen portfolio of beers, which encompasses Old Golden Hen, Old Crafty Hen, Old Master Hen and Low Alcohol Old Speckled Hen. It will maintain production of the beer at the Westgate Brewery to guarantee uninterrupted supply and uniform taste throughout a transition phase.
Nevertheless, the company will subsequently transfer brewing operations for these beers to Damm’s newly constructed brewery in Bedford, resulting in Westgate’s ultimate closure.
Old Speckled Hen will remain stocked in leading UK supermarkets and other outlets as a consequence. The decision forms part of a broader strategic overhaul from Greene King as it doubles down on its pub operations.
The Suffolk-headquartered business revealed it will step back from manufacturing beer destined for the off trade – the sector terminology for retailers such as supermarkets.
Old Speckled Hen varieties represent more than half of Greene King’s beers distributed through UK retail outlets.
Greene King, which operates 2,500 pubs, eateries and hotels, will persist in crafting cask ale and artisan beer including Greene King IPA and Abbot Ale but will concentrate on marketing these within pub establishments. The group announced it will proceed with the strategy from summer 2027 with the launch of a new £40 million brewery in Bury St Edmunds.
Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of Greene King, said: “Brewing beer in Bury St Edmunds to be sold in pubs is what we have been doing for more than 200 years.
“By making this core to our renewed brewing strategy, we are proposing optimising our brewing operations to focus on winning where we are strongest, delivering our beers to the pubs where our customers most love to drink them and setting Greene King up for long-term profitable growth.”
Greene King confirmed its Scottish Belhaven brewing operation will remain unaffected by the changes.
Luke White, managing director of Damm UK, said: “Old Speckled Hen is an iconic British ale brand with a rich heritage and loyal following, and we are proud that Greene King has chosen Damm UK to take the brand forward into its next chapter.
“We have great respect for the history Greene King has built around Old Speckled Hen over the last 25 years and look forward to working closely together throughout the transition period to ensure continued success for the brand, customers and consumers alike.”