Carlsberg Marston's

What Carlsberg Marston's does

Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company, now operating as Carlsberg Britvic, is one of the UK's largest multi-beverage suppliers. Formed in May 2020 as a 60/40 joint venture between Carlsberg UK and Marston's PLC, the company became wholly owned by Carlsberg AS in July 2024 following a £206 million buyout of Marston's 40% stake. In January 2025, Carlsberg Group completed its acquisition of Britvic plc, merging the two UK businesses into Carlsberg Britvic and making the UK Carlsberg Group's largest market by revenue globally. The company operates two major breweries — Northampton (CMBC's largest) and Burton upon Trent — alongside a 15-depot national secondary logistics network, and announced plans to close Banks's Brewery in Wolverhampton in Autumn 2025 as part of network restructuring.

The portfolio spans international lagers (Carlsberg Danish Pilsner, 1664, Tuborg, Holsten, Birrificio Angelo Poretti), American craft beers (Brooklyn Brewery range including Stonewall Inn IPA), British traditional ales (Hobgoblin, Marston's Pedigree, Wainwright, Tetley's, Banks's, Courage), German wheat beers (ERDINGER), and Somersby cider. Low/no alcohol variants now represent 26% of the product portfolio. The business runs proprietary Carlsberg Intelligent Draught keg dispense technology for on-trade venues, sustainable packaging innovations (Snap Packs, KK Clips), and a £4 million investment in a new 222,000 sq ft West Midlands Interchange depot targeted for Q4 2026.

Revenue is generated primarily through beer production and wholesale distribution across on-trade (pubs, bars, restaurants) and off-trade (retail) channels, with multi-year volume-based trade investment contracts (2-3 year terms yielding £4,200-£7,040 investment payments). Supplemental revenue comes from licensing and brand partnerships, most notably a five-year Tilray Brands agreement for US production and distribution of Carlsberg and 1664. Brand marketing leverages the Liverpool FC sponsorship (extended to 2034), London Fashion Week principal partnership for 1664 Blanc, and cultural sponsorships including Pride in London and the British Deaf Association.

Name

Carlsberg Marston's

Legal name

Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company Limited

Website

https://carlsbergmarstons.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company, now Carlsberg Britvic, is the UK's largest multi-beverage supplier, brewing and distributing an international and British beer portfolio through two major breweries and a 15-depot national logistics network to on-trade and off-trade customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Brewery / Beer Manufacturing

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Beverage Manufacturing (3121)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regional & National Breweries (THAFALAD), Alcoholic Beverage Brand Owners & Holding Companies (Multi-category Portfolios) (CRADAIAL), Alcohol-Free & Low-Alcohol Beer/Wine/Spirits Production (AFAFAAAJ)

Keywords

• Beer brewing
• Cider production
• Alcoholic beverages
• Craft beer portfolio
• Low alcohol beer

Headquarters

HQ city

Wolverhampton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Beer Production and Sales: Carlsberg Marston's generates revenue through brewing and selling beer products across both on-trade (pubs, bars, restaurants) and off-trade (retail) channels. The portfolio includes international brands like Carlsberg Danish Pilsner and 1664, as well as British ales such as Hobgoblin and Pedigree.
2. Licensing and Brand Partnerships: Revenue generated through licensing agreements including production partnerships (Tilray brewing Carlsberg brands in US) and brand license partnerships for international brands distributed in the UK (San Miguel, Mahou, Brooklyn Brewery craft beer portfolio).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company (now operating as Carlsberg Britvic) is a major UK brewery that produces and sells an extensive portfolio of beer, cider, and low/no alcohol beverages. The company operates brewing facilities in Northampton and Burton upon Trent, distributing products through on-trade (pubs, bars, restaurants) and off-trade retail channels across the UK via a 15-depot logistics network. The portfolio spans international lagers, British traditional ales, American craft beers, German wheat beers, and cider.

Product overview

Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company (CMBC), now operating as Carlsberg Britvic following the January 2025 merger with Britvic plc, is a major UK beverage company offering an extensive portfolio of beer, cider, and low/no alcohol products. The portfolio includes flagship international brands (Carlsberg Danish Pilsner, 1664, Birrificio Angelo Poretti), American craft beers (Brooklyn Brewery range), British traditional ales (Hobgoblin, Marston's Pedigree, Wainwright, Tetley's, Banks's), German wheat beers (ERDINGER), Scandinavian lagers (Tuborg, Holsten), and Somersby cider. The company also offers a growing low and no alcohol range including Carlsberg 0.0, 1664 Bière 0.0%, ERDINGER Alkoholfrei, Brooklyn Special Effects, and Shipyard American Low Tide. The business operates breweries in Northampton, Burton upon Trent, and previously Wolverhampton, with national distribution through 15 logistics depots.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Carlsberg Danish Pilsner: Flagship pilsner lager from Denmark
• 1664 Blanc
• Brooklyn Brewery
• Hobgoblin
• Marston's Pedigree
• ERDINGER
• Birrificio Angelo Poretti
• Wainwright
• Tetley's
• Banks's
• Somersby
• Shipyard
• Tuborg
• Carlsberg 0.0
• 1664 Bière 0.0%

Products and services

• Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Premium Danish pilsner brewed with aromatic hops and lightly roasted barley, offering a crisp and refreshing flavour with smooth mouthfeel.
• Carlsberg Expørt Premium-strength pilsner style lager with deep malty notes and distinct bitterness.
• Carlsberg Special Brew Full-bodied strong lager with fruity tasting notes, positioned as the No.1 premium beer in the high alcohol category.
• Carlsberg 0.0 Alcohol-free pilsner with crisp hoppy bite, containing zero alcohol and half the calories of regular Carlsberg Pilsner.
• 1664 Blanc Modern, fruity and refreshing wheat beer from France with unique sweet flavour from hints of citrus and coriander spice, presented in iconic shiny blue bottle.
• 1664 Bière Premium lager featuring citrus aroma and notes of apricot with French Strisselspalt hops delivering delicate balance of aroma and bitterness.
• 1664 Bière 0.0% Premium alcohol-free lager made with signature hops from Alsace region, delivering the flavour of 1664 Bière with subtle bitter twist and fruity floral notes.
• ERDINGER Weissbier Classic cloudy orange-golden wheat beer from Germany blending gently spicy malt aromas with mildly bitter hops and fruity banana and citrus notes.
• ERDINGER Dunkel Dark unfiltered wheat beer from Bavaria featuring carefully selected dark wheat and barley malts with refined roasting aromas and lively carbonic acid.
• ERDINGER Alkoholfrei Cloudy alcohol-free wheat beer full of sweetness, fruitiness and soft mouthwatering filling, comparable to regular wheat beer in taste.
• Hobgoblin Gold Easy-drinking golden ale with tropical aromas of citrus and passion fruit from four hop varieties infused with malted barley and wheat.
• Hobgoblin IPA Pale golden IPA forged from finest British hops and Pacific varieties delivering intense tropical explosion of zesty oranges, grapefruit, honey and juicy bitterness.
• Hobgoblin Amber Amber ale preserving malted caramel notes and brilliant bitterness with full-bodied hoppiness, featuring Fuggles, Progress, Herkules and Goldings hops.
• Brooklyn Special Effects Award-winning hoppy 0.4% alcohol-free lager with unexpected piney aroma and pleasantly bitter finish, dry-hopped with Mosaic, Citra and Amarillo hops.
• Brooklyn Lager Amber-gold coloured lager with firm malt centre supported by refreshing bitterness and floral hop aroma, dry-hopped for enhanced aromatic qualities.
• Brooklyn Stonewall Inn IPA Sessionable refreshing IPA crafted with bold notes of grapefruit and bright citrus peel, balancing subtle hop bitterness with moreish dry finish.
• Birrificio Angelo Poretti Italian lager-style beer characterised by fine sticky head with four hop varieties from around the world creating balanced bitterness and flavour.
• Holsten Pils Pale blonde German Pilsner with sweet earthy lemon aroma, hoppy malty flavour and soft lingering finish.
• Tuborg Bottom-fermented lager beer brewed on lager malt resulting in mild fresh taste and aroma of flowers and cereal with moderate bitterness.
• Somersby Apple Sparkling Cider Pleasantly sparkling cider with balanced sweetness made for carefree enjoyment, featuring signature taste of chilled out times with friends.
• Marston's Pedigree Traditional British ale with fascinating aroma, palate of biscuit malt, spicy hops and light fruitiness, originally known as 'P' when first launched.
• Marston's Resolution Strong refreshing beer with double fermentation process turning all sugars into alcohol, delivering punchy flavours and full-bodied flavours finished with crisp note.
• McEwan's Export Full-bodied hearty ale with delightful sweetness.
• Young's Light Ale

Quantifiable outcome

• Carbon emissions reduced by 11.4% since 2022
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• British Deaf AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2026Carlsberg and Liverpool FC partnered with British Deaf Association to teach fans at Anfield Stadium British Sign Language rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' during West Ham match. Initiative includes permanent BSL Fan Interpreters at all men's and women's home matches, plus sign language training for LFC bar staff and pub partners. Part of Liverpool FC's 'Red Together' inclusion strategy.
• Tilray BrandscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 February 2026Five-year agreement (effective January) for Tilray to brew, sell, and distribute Carlsberg brands including Carlsberg and 1664 across the United States. Automatic renewal for another five years subject to performance criteria. Tilray leverages existing US brewing operations built through acquiring craft beer brands from Anheuser-Busch InBev and Molson Coors, making it the fourth largest brewer in the US. This partnership provides Carlsberg with local production capability to grow its presence in the US premium European beer segment.
• Oxford PropertiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 July 2025Global real estate investor, developer and manager partnering on West Midlands Interchange (£2 billion new national logistics hub). Carlsberg Britvic announced as first occupier at WMI, investing £4m in new 222,000 sq ft depot facility targeting BREEAM 'Excellent' and Net Zero Carbon Aligned standards.
• Logistics Capital Partners (LCP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 July 2025Logistics Capital Partners developing West Midlands Interchange, a £2 billion new national logistics hub. Carlsberg Britvic as first occupier represents significant milestone for the project, demonstrating wider confidence in the strategic success of WMI.
• London Fashion Week / British Fashion CouncilcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 February 20251664 Blanc returns as Principal Partner of London Fashion Week for second year. Partnership includes collaborations with NEWGEN designers (Di Petsa, Chet Lo, Sinead O'Dwyer), runway show access, and The Shop at LFW support. Continues brand positioning as sophisticated, creative, and culturally connected.
• Pride in LondoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Three-year partnership naming Brooklyn Stonewall Inn IPA as Official Beer of Pride in London 2025. Partnership includes pouring rights across Pride event bars, brand visibility at events, and alignment with Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative for LGBTQ+ community support.
• DrinkawarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Responsible drinking charity partner. In 2024, CMBC supported 684,000 completions of Drinkaware's 'Drinking Check' tool, achieving a 24% increase in completions year-on-year. Partnership supports Carlsberg's ZERO Irresponsible Drinking ambitions and responsible consumption messaging across product marketing.
• Fold7minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Creative agency working with Carlsberg on social-first marketing campaigns including Christmas jumper 'knit launch' and Love My Local digital platform development in partnership with CHD Innovation.
• ASDAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Retail partnership for Carlsberg Christmas jumper competition giveaway and general product distribution. ASDA Online offered opportunities to win limited-edition Carlsberg Christmas jumpers through digital-first giveaway.
• Liverpool FCflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Long-term sponsorship partnership since 1992, renewed until 2034. 30+ year association includes matchday activations, limited-edition product launches (Miracle Can 20th anniversary), and inclusive fan experiences. Carlsberg has been an integral part of Liverpool FC's commercial partnerships for over three decades.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Heineken UK: Heineken UK is one of the largest brewers in the UK with national distribution, a portfolio of international and UK beer brands (Heineken, Foster's, Strongbow, Birra Moretti), and direct on-trade and off-trade routes to market — directly comparable to Carlsberg Britvic in scale, channel mix, and brand portfolio breadth.
• Molson Coors Beverage Company: Molson Coors operates major UK brewing facilities (Burton upon Trent) and brands including Carling, Coors, Doom Bar, and Sharps, with national UK on-trade and off-trade distribution — comparable to Carlsberg Britvic across both volume mainstream and craft/cask ale segments.
• AB InBev UK (Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I): AB InBev's UK operations (formerly SABMiller's UK business) own major beer brands including Budweiser, Stella Artois, Corona, and Bass, with national brewing and distribution — a direct head-to-head competitor to Carlsberg Britvic in UK on-trade and off-trade channels.
• Asahi UK: Asahi UK owns beer brands including Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Asahi Super Dry, Meantime, and Fuller's, and operates UK brewing and distribution — a direct competitor in the premium and super-premium UK beer segment where Carlsberg Britvic also competes via 1664 and Birrificio Angelo Poretti.
• C&C Group: C&C Group owns Tennent's, Bulmers, and Magners cider and beer brands, with manufacturing and UK/Irish distribution — directly comparable as a multi-beverage supplier with cider exposure (Somersby) competing in similar on-trade and off-trade channels.

Emerging players

• BrewDog: BrewDog is a UK-focused craft brewer with growing national distribution and own-brand bars, overlapping with Carlsberg Britvic's Brooklyn Brewery craft portfolio and on-trade listings — an emerging player in segments where CMBC also competes.

Broad incumbents

• Diageo: Diageo is a global alcoholic-beverage major with a large UK presence across beer (Guinness), spirits, and ready-to-drink. While broader in category, Diageo competes with Carlsberg Britvic in UK on-trade accounts, premium occasion marketing, and brand-building investment.
• Constellation Brands: Constellation Brands is a large multi-category alcoholic beverage company with beer (Corona, Modelo in the US) and wine/spirits portfolios. Carlsberg Group has cited Tilray's US growth into premium European beer as competition-relevant, and Constellation's beer scale is comparable to what Carlsberg Britvic targets via its US Tilray partnership.
• Suntory Beverage & Food: Suntory is a global multi-beverage group with significant UK presence in soft drinks and beer (Lucozade Ribena Suntory, Orangina Schweppes). Comparable to Carlsberg Britvic's post-merger multi-beverage positioning combining beer and soft drinks via the Britvic combination.

Regional players

• Thatchers Cider: Thatchers is a leading UK regional cider producer competing with Somersby (CMBC's cider brand) in UK off-trade listings and on-trade accounts. Comparable as a UK-focused cider specialist with similar retail-channel dynamics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/cmbcuk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cmbcuk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Carlsberg Marston's