Marston’s world beer portfolio grows with Japanese contract
Premium Japanese beer brand Kirin has renewed a five-year brewing and distribution contract with Marston’s.
The Wolverhampton based brewer is celebrating the beginning of a new five-year deal just months after extending its agreement with US based Shipyard.
Sales of Kirin have grown since Marston’s took over the contract from Charles Wells Brewery following its acquisition in 2017. Kirin is one of Japan’s top selling global beers.
Marston’s has focussed on sales of the premium lager into the growing demands for Japanese and Asian foods both in premium restaurants. Kirin Ichiban has been brewed since 1888.
Marston’s world beer portfolio which includes European (Estrella Damm; Warsteiner and Erdinger), American (Shipyard and Founders) and Asian (Kirin) beers continues to grow with the the increasing trend for discovering international produce particularly amongst millennial drinkers.
Yoshinori Tsuchiya, Kirin Europe chief executive, said: "Without the excellent collaboration with Marston’s, we would not be able to allow consumers to love our brand in the UK, like they do in other regions of the world. We are excited to continue doing business in the UK with great partners.”
Richard Westwood, managing director of Marston’s Beer Company, said: "This extended partnership with Kirin is a testament to the close relationship we have built over the past three years. We are excited to work collaboratively with the Kirin team in order to build the brand’s UK presence and showcase it as the premium, authentic Japanese beer."”
This continued partnership with Kirin will help continue the growth and diversity of Marston’s World Beers portfolio.
