Wells & Co sees sales revenue increase to £66.2 million
Bedfordshire-based beer and pub business Wells & Co has shown a year of steady progress, with its 2025 annual accounts revealing a 5% increase in sales to £66.2 million.
The group, which has seen growth in the UK driving a 5% rise in group EBITDA to £10.3 million and operating profit before exceptional costs increase 21% to £4.2m, up from £3.5m.
Performance across the company’s managed house estate, made up of 26 sites in the UK and 19 in France, has seen an overall turnover growth of 2% which the business has said is reflects the strength and diversity of the division. This has also come at a time when there have been rising employment costs in the UK, with increases in National Minimum Wage and employer National Insurance contributions adding approximately £800,000 to the cost base.
Growth despite a demanding trading environment
The group’s Pub Partner division, comprising 136 leased and tenanted sites across the northern home countries and East Anglia, has also delivered a fourth consecutive year of growth in a demanding trading environment. In fact, turnover has been revealed to be up 4%, with the reopening of closed sites as well as the acquisition of three new Pub Partner sites, coupled with the resilience and commercial focus of its operators, which the group has admitted has contributed to the overall uplift.
According to the figures, the group’s performance of its Pub Partner sites has been underpinned by the business decision to “hold supplier pricing across the majority of its draught beer range for more than 18 months”. This, it revealed, has allowed partners to “meet the challenge of increased payroll costs whilst continuing to offer great service to their own customers” and “as a result, own brewed beer volume to its UK pub estate was up 9% year-on-year”.
Partner Content
Further support was delivered through a series of round-table discussions, with more than 50% of the estate joining members of the Wells & Co leadership team to share best practice, exchange ideas and strengthen peer-to-peer networks.
Brewery a driver for growth
The firm also observed how its Brewpoint brewery has continued to be a driver of growth both in terms of volume and earnings. For instance, strong demand for core brands — Supernova Helles Lager, Foghorn Hazy IPA and Genesis Stout — alongside higher production volumes, have delivered a 9% uplift in overall sales. Plus, both Foghorn and Supernova received industry awards in the last 12 months, enhancing the reputation of Brewpoint’s beer line-up.
Speaking about the results, Wells & Co CEO Peter Wells said: “2025 has been a year of steady progress for the group, particularly in the UK, where growth in all divisions increased overall earnings.”
Wells explained: “We have remained focused on ensuring our pubs are relevant to their communities — investing in the right offers and experiences to drive dwell time and respond to changing consumer preferences. At the same time, market conditions in both the UK and France remain challenging, and cost inflation, particularly in employment, continues to place pressure on the sector. Despite this, we delivered earnings growth, strengthened the balance sheet and bolstered our operational leadership. Our portfolio across both the UK and France gives the group greater balance and resilience, creating a strong platform for sustainable long-term growth.”
Wells assured that “with clear strategic priorities in place, we believe we are well positioned to navigate the ongoing headwinds and deliver further progress in 2026, supported by a network of talented, entrepreneurial and passionate partners, in what is the 150th anniversary year of our family business.”
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