Innis & Gunn

What Innis & Gunn does

Innis & Gunn was an Edinburgh-based independent Scottish craft brewery founded in 2003 by Dougal Sharp, recognized as Scotland's most awarded independent brewer and the number one craft lager in Scotland by market position. The company produced a portfolio of craft beers and lagers using traditional barrel-aging processes and built brand equity through heritage storytelling, including limited-edition releases such as the recreation of a 150-year-old Arctic Ale originally brewed for an 1875 Arctic expedition. Its go-to-market spanned direct-to-consumer taprooms in Glasgow and Edinburgh, retail off-trade, and the on-trade hospitality/pub sector, with a horizontal segmentation targeting craft beer enthusiasts, hospitality venues, and retail consumers.

The company's revenue model combined product sales across retail and hospitality channels with brand/IP value. It raised over £8 million from crowdfunding investors and received institutional backing from US private equity firm L Catterton (28% stake), while Dublin-based C&C Group (owner of Tennent's Lager and Magners) held an 8% minority stake since 2021 and served as the contract brewer for most of its products. Despite achieving market-leading craft lager share, the company was mostly loss-making since 2016, weighed down by rising cost pressures including Scotland's minimum unit pricing increases.

In March 2026, Innis & Gunn entered administration with FTI Consulting appointed, and the brand and global intellectual property were acquired by C&C Group in a pre-pack deal for £4.5 million. The acquisition excluded the three taprooms, the Inveralmond Brewery in Perth, and the e-commerce platform, resulting in over 100 job losses. The brand now operates as part of C&C Group's portfolio under Tennent Caledonian Breweries UK Ltd, with distribution leverage through the Tennent's Lager network across the UK and Ireland.

Name

Innis & Gunn

Legal name

Innis & Gunn (Brand owned by C&C Group plc / Tennent Caledonian Breweries UK Ltd)

Website

https://innisandgunn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Innis & Gunn was an Edinburgh-based Scottish craft brewery founded in 2003, known as Scotland's number one craft lager. In March 2026, C&C Group acquired the brand and global IP for £4.5 million in a pre-pack administration deal; the operating brewery, taprooms, and e-commerce were excluded.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Beverage Manufacturing (3121)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA), Regional & National Breweries (THAFALAD)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Barrel-aged ales
• Scottish lager
• Craft brewery
• Premium beer

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Beer and Lager Sales: Sale of craft beers and lagers through retail, hospitality (pubs/bars), and direct-to-consumer taprooms. Revenue derived from product sales across multiple channels.
2. Brand Licensing and IP: Following acquisition by C&C Group, the brand and global intellectual property generates revenue through licensing arrangements within C&C's portfolio.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Innis & Gunn is a Scottish craft brewery producing premium barrel-aged beers and lagers, recognized as Scotland's number one craft lager. The brand portfolio includes flagship lager products, craft ales, and limited-edition heritage releases such as the Arctic Ale recreation brewed using a 150-year-old original bottle. Following acquisition by C&C Group in March 2026, the brand and global IP are owned by Tennent Caledonian Breweries UK Ltd.

Product overview

Innis & Gunn was a Scottish craft beer company offering a portfolio of beer and lager products. The company operated taprooms in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and was associated with Inveralmond Brewery in Perth. In March 2026, the company entered administration and C&C Group (owner of Tennent's Lager) acquired the Innis & Gunn brand and its global intellectual property for £4.5 million. The acquisition excluded the brewery operations, taprooms, experiences, and ecommerce platform, which remained with administrators FTI Consulting.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Innis & Gunn Beer and Lager Portfolio Scottish craft beer and lager brand portfolio, recognized as the number one craft lager in Scotland, offering premium barrel-aged beers and lagers for retail, hospitality, and (formerly) taproom consumers. The brand and global intellectual property were acquired by C&C Group in March 2026.
• Arctic Ale Historical Recreation Limited-edition craft beer recreating an 1875 Arctic expedition ale, brewed using the original 150-year-old bottle's contents. Targeted at craft beer enthusiasts and collectors interested in historical and heritage beer experiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• Scotland's number one craft lager
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• FTI ConsultingminorOthersAppointed as administrator for Innis & Gunn; handled the pre-pack sale process and made 100 staff redundant. Excluded the taprooms and Perth brewery from the sale to C&C Group.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Beavertown Brewery: UK craft beer brand with strong brand-led identity and pub-channel distribution. Similar premium craft positioning and brand storytelling approach.
• BrewDog: Largest UK-based craft brewer with a broad beer and lager portfolio. Direct competitor in UK craft beer retail and on-trade channels with comparable scale and brand-led positioning.
• Tennent's Lager: Flagship brand of C&C Group and Innis & Gunn's new sister brand. Most directly comparable in terms of UK and Ireland distribution footprint and Scottish market heritage.
• Harviestoun Brewery: Award-winning Scottish craft brewery with premium positioning across bottle-conditioned ales and lagers. Comparable craft credentials and Scottish heritage story.
• Belhaven Brewery: Historic Scottish brewery producing a range of ales and beers. Direct geographic and category peer operating in the same Scottish market.
• Williams Bros Brewing Co: Independent Scottish craft brewery focused on traditional and experimental ales. Comparable size, Scottish heritage, and craft beer positioning.
• Camden Town Brewery: UK craft lager and beer brand with strong on-trade presence in pubs and bars. Comparable craft positioning and channel mix to Innis & Gunn.

Broad incumbents

• Diageo: Global alcohol beverage major with broad beer, spirits, and ready-to-drink portfolio. Sets the structural competitive context for craft beer brands seeking scale distribution.
• Heineken: Global brewer with extensive UK beer portfolio and on-trade distribution. Relevant benchmark for how a multinational operates a portfolio of beer brands at scale.

Emerging players

• Cloudwater Brew Co: Independent UK craft brewery with premium, modern craft positioning. Useful comparable for assessing premium craft brand economics and taproom-led growth models.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/innisandgunn
• Xx.com/InnisandGunnUK

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Innis & Gunn