One of best known and biggest breweries in Cornwall, producer of a popular ale, is set to close. American owner Molson Coors Beverage Company has revealed that it plans to shut down Sharp’s Brewery in Rock and has begun a formal consultation process with employees.
The site is best known as the birthplace of Doom Bar, a beer that has become a fixture in pubs, restaurants and supermarkets across the UK and remains the country’s best‑selling cask ale. Since taking over the Sharp’s Brewery site in 2011, Molson Coors has poured more than £20 million into expanding its capacity, modernising equipment, driving product innovation and strengthening the overall Sharp’s range.
The company says the proposal to close the facility comes only after every possible alternative was examined, with the conclusion that the site could not be made financially viable over the long term.
It said the plan — still subject to consultation — comes at a time when the market is shifting and the wider category is evolving, prompting a need to streamline its UK and Ireland operations to improve efficiency and cut costs in support of long‑term growth. If implemented, the changes could lead to around 200 job losses across Molson Coors’ UK and Ireland business.
Simon Kerry, Managing Director, UK & Ireland at MCBC, 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.
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“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. »
As the company moves through the consultation process, it says its commitment to the Sharp’s brand remains unchanged. Molson Coors is currently assessing several alternative ways to keep production going, including the option of partnering with another producer to brew the beers in future.
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