Fuller, Smith & Turner.
Fuller's put out a strong half year report on Friday, the highlights of what are:
- Pre-tax profit up 10% to £21.6 million ($33 million);
- Revenue up 10% to £177.7 million ($271.6 million);
- Sales growth of 5.6% in its pubs and hotels, not including new openings;
- and 1% growth in beer and cider volumes.
CEO Simon Emeny says in the statement: "We have had a strong first half with all areas of the business in growth, demonstrating the clear trading momentum underway in the business."
What's particularly interesting though is now Fuller's, a traditional English brewery known for its cask ales, is getting behind the booming popularity of US-style craft beers and craft ciders in Britain.
In 2013 it bought Cornish Orchards craft cider company and last year the company bought a 51% in craft cider and pizza chain The Stable.
Fuller's has also snapped up the
In other words, get through the door with a bottle of Sierra Nevada and then slip a few bottles of Fuller's beer into the deal once you're in.
The beer Fuller's is pushing is primarily is "craft lager" - Frontier. Launched in 2013, Fuller's says volumes have doubled year-on-year and it is now launching the beer in small, 330ml can forms.
The brewery says:
We have recently launched the brand in 330ml cans - which has helped to take it to a whole new range of craft beer venues where it can be hard to keep a permanent tap listing for any brand. We have also launched two other brands in 330ml cans - Wild River and Black Cab Stout. Craft beer bars like cans because they are quicker to chill than bottles, are easily recyclable and look fantastic.
Fuller, Smith & Turner.
But now cans are trendy, with street food festival organiser London Union stocking bars of US craft beer cans at is venues in London. And Fuller's, a 170-year-old brewery, is changing with the times. It's made sure its Frontier lager is stocked at London Union events like Dinerama and Hawker House to win over a new generation of beer drinkers.
Fuller's shares are up just over 1% in London at 8.05 a.m. GMT (3.05 a.m. ET).