Molson Coors to close Sharp’s Brewery putting 50 jobs at risk

Carling brewer, Molson Coors plans to shut its Cornish brewery and Cardiff contact centre by the end of 2026. In total, 200 roles are under consultation as the company seeks cost savings and a more digital model.

Molson Coors has unveiled proposals to close Sharp’s Brewery in Rock, Cornwall, placing its future in doubt after 15 years under the ownership of the US-Canadian group.

According to a Coors press briefing, the brewer intends to shut the site by the end of the year, with the decision taken “only after exploring every alternative option to make the site financially sustainable”. The business, which acquired Sharp’s in 2011, said it “remains committed” to the Sharp’s brands, which includes Doom Bar and Atlantic.

In a statement shared with the drinks business, Simon Kerry, UK and Ireland managing director at Molson Coors, said: “The proposed closure of Sharp’s Brewery has not been an easy decision for us to make.

“It has been a significant part of our UK business for 15 years, with an exceptional and committed team who take such huge pride in their craft.

“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.”

Molson Coors said it has invested more than £20 million into Sharp’s Brewery since purchasing the business in 2011. The brewery, founded by Bill Sharp in 1994, employs 80 staff according to the compnay’s website – the drinks business understands that 50 roles will be impacted at Sharp’s Brewery.

Digital shift reshapes customer service

Alongside the brewery closure, Molson Coors is proposing to shut its UK national contact centre in Cardiff by the end of 2026, impacting 60 roles.

The company said almost 90% of orders from customers, including bars and pubs, are now placed via its website. Customer service would instead be handled online and from its UK and Ireland headquarters in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire.

Kerry said: “As our customers’ purchasing habits have become more digitally led over the past few years, we have evolved our business as part of our digitisation journey.

“The proposed closure of our national contact centre is no reflection on the brilliant work of our teams, but is in response to these changes.

“This is clearly a very difficult time for our colleagues, and we will be doing everything we can to support our teams through this process.”

The combined proposals could result in around 200 redundancies across the UK and Ireland business, according to the same press briefing. Molson Coors described the move as part of efforts to “unlock efficiencies and cost-savings”.

A testing period for brewing jobs

The announcement arrives amid wider uncertainty across the brewing sector. As previously reported by the drinks business, workers at Brewdog are staging a demonstration in Aberdeen over the company’s proposed sale and restructuring, with Unite Hospitality citing a lack of consultation, the abandonment of the real living wage, bar closures and reduced contracted hours.

Related news

Molson Coors launches Caffrey’s Black Stout

Is Molson Coors’ Madrí scratch card promotion a stroke of genius?

Warrillow takes home £1.1m as Fever-Tree ties up Molson Coors partnership