Brains announces ale sales only slightly down

Welsh brewer SA Brain have announced that sales of real ales have only dropped by only 1.9% , compared to the market average of 10%.
According to Company Chairman, Chris Brain, "“In volume terms, the national on-trade for all beers was down by over 9% during the financial year and in Wales the decline was considerably higher with the last quarter believed to be down by around 15%.
"The slowing economy, an accelerated decline in beer sales, severe cost base pressure and another poor summer were all factors. As late as the end of June, the business was performing to plan but we then experienced a significant deterioration in trading conditions within the final quarter of the year.
“However, the investment that we have continued to make in our brands, pubs and people has ensured that we have continued to outperform or at least perform in line with the market in most areas of the business"

The company saw turnover drop from £117m in 2007 to £113m in its latest year after the sale of its free trade business and some smaller managed pubs moving to the tenanted division.
There was a drop of £2.9 million in profits to £5.9 million in the year to September 2008.

The company saw turnover drop from £117m in 2007 to £113m in its latest year after the sale of its free trade business and some smaller managed pubs moving to the tenanted division.