Sharp's Brewery to close with loss of 50 jobs

A Cornish brewery is set to close with the loss of 50 jobs.

The US brewing firm Molson Coors said it was proposing to shut Sharp's Brewery in Rock by the end of the year because the site was "no longer financially sustainable".

Managing director Simon Kerry said 200 staff would be made redundant across Molson Coors and 50 would be staff at the Rock brewery.

Kerry said the firm was in the process of exploring a number of alternative production routes, including the possibility of producing Sharp's brands in partnership.

He said it "has not been an easy decision" to make and the Sharp's team at Rock had been "an exceptional and committed team who take such huge pride in their craft".

In a statement, Molson Coors said it had invested more than £20m in Sharp's Brewery since it acquired it in 2011 to expand capacity, upgrade equipment and strengthen the Sharp's portfolio.

Kerry said: "We have invested significantly in the site and the Sharp's brands over that time and have taken every step we can to try and avoid this outcome.

"However, the site is no longer financially sustainable as part of our national production network.

"Our focus now is on supporting our Rock-based colleagues in every way we can throughout this process."

John Brown, chief executive of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, said he had empathy for those who could potentially lose their jobs.

He said: "This isn't something you ever want to see happen, especially with a brand that has been such a powerful part of the Cornish story.

"It's a great shame to hear that it's being reviewed ... albeit as part of what seems to be a more national review that's being undertaken by the parent company."

Brown added the brands themselves might not disappear but that would be "no comfort" to those whose jobs relied on the brewery.

"It's one of these moments where you do have to reflect on what's been happening over the last few years, the costs of energy, the costs of this sort of infrastructure, transportation," he added.

"I'm hoping that those 50 or so people that are finding themselves in this seriously unfortunate, awful situation will find new opportunities and continue to flourish in this wonderful economy."

North Cornwall MP Ben Maguire said he had called on ministers to urgently rethink policies which were "ripping the hospitality sector to shreds".

He said with businesses facing rising costs and fiscal uncertainties the Government needed to "protect the heart of local communities" and safeguard the vital part they play in Cornwall's visitor economy.

"Sharp's and its famous ales like Doom Bar have become part of Cornwall's identity," Maguire said.

"This news is a hammer blow for the local economy, and for the hospitality sector here in Cornwall that is already on its last legs."

He added it was "deeply disappointing" to see an "American multinational move production out of Cornwall".

"I'm tabling an official parliamentary motion urging the government to think again. If ministers want thriving high streets and strong communities, they need to start backing the businesses that make that possible - here in North Cornwall and right across the country," he added.

A government spokesperson said they recognised this will be a challenging time for workers at Sharp and their families.

"We stand ready to support [them] through the Department for Work and Pensions Rapid Response Service," they added.

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