Molson Coors offloads its UK maltings business to Soufflet Group

Brewer Molson Coors UK has agreed to sell its maltings business in Burton-on-Trent to French agriculture group Soufflet.

As part of the sale, employees at Shobnall Maltings will transfer to Malteries Soufflet – a member of the larger group – at the beginning of July 2015, with no redundancies planned, according to a joint statement.

Molson Coors UK has also signed a long term supply contract to purchase malt from Malteries Soufflet.

The French group said the acquisition was a logical step forward in its long term strategy and an opportunity to enter the British malt market, which is the second largest in the EU.

“Molson Coors UK believes Malteries Soufflet will be a good home for its people and Shobnall Maltings will have a great opportunity to grow and thrive being part of an international and experienced maltster company,” the joint statement added.

“Molson Coors UK will continue to focus on its core business of making and selling leading brands that delight the UK’s beer drinkers.

Malteries Soufflet will now own 27 maltings located in Europe, South America and Asia following the transaction, with a total annual malt production capacity of 2.3 million tonnes.