Carlsberg to expand Northampton

Capacity increase as Tetley wraps up

Carlsberg UK has set out plans to increase capacity at its Northampton Brewery as the historic Tetley plant in Leeds faces closure by 2011.  

Capacity at the Danish brewer’s UK headquarters will be upped from 4.5 million hl to 6 million as the brewer looks to consolidate production and cut costs in response to the recession.  

“The move forms part of the Carlsberg Group supply chain strategy for Northern and Western Europe, built around concentrating production at fewer sites to optimise our supply chain structure,” said supply chain head Kasper Madsen.  

“Once the development has been completed we are confident that the Northampton Brewery will be one of the most efficient breweries in the world.” 

The project will enable Northampton to take on the lager currently brewed in Leeds and is due to start mid next year and end in 2011. Carlsberg UK committed itself to finding a partner to keep production of Tetley in Yorkshire, after it announced the Leeds closure last year.   

“The investment shows a significant commitment from the Carlsberg Group to Carlsberg UK and will play a key role in ensuring we remain a strong and sustainable player in a challenging UK market,” said Carlsberg UK CEO Isaac Sheps.