Former Banks's Brewery owner Carlsberg reveals stronger profits than expected after Britvic takeover
Former Banks's Brewery owner Carlsberg has revealed stronger than expected profits after securing cost efficiencies sooner than anticipated following its takeover of Britvic.
The drinks giant said synergies between the group’s Carlsberg UK business and Britvic are “ahead of plan”, having already secured around 30 per cent of the predicted £110 million in the projected savings.
Carlsberg’s £3.3 billion takeover of the J20 and Robinsons squash maker was completed early last year - some months before the beverage company pulled the plug on Wolverhampton's iconic Banks's Brewery which it acquired from Marston's.
Britvic, based in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, employs around 4,500 people.
The Danish drinks firm said the boost from the takeover helped operating profits increase by 22.7 per cent to £1.6 billion in 2025. It also helped overall sales volumes grow by 17.7 per cent, with total revenues up 18.8 per cent year-on-year. But group organic volumes were down 0.6 per cent after taking into account the loss of its contract to brew and sell San Miguel lager in the UK.
Mahou San Miguel, the brand’s parent business, ended Carlsberg’s contract to make and distribute the beer last year, passing the UK licence to AB InBev.
In autumn 2025, Carlsberg Britvic, the UK part of the Carlsberg Group, presided over the closure of Banks's Brewery at Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton, in its 150th year - having acquired the historic brewery when it merged in January 2025 with Wolverhampton-based Marston's which later ditched its brewing arm to concentrate solely on running its nationwide network of pubs.
Carlsberg Britvic still operates a depot from Grimstone Street in Wolverhampton but last year announced plans to move to the West Midlands Interchange (WMI), a £2 billion new national logistics hub located at Junction 12 of the M6, north of Wolverhampton, just under 10 miles from its current city centre depot which is expected to close in the final quarter of 2026 when the new build is complete. Staff will also move out of the landmark city centre Marston’s House when construction at WMI is completed later this year.
Carlsberg group chief executive Jacob Aarup-Andersen said of the company's latest results: “Navigating a challenging consumer environment, we successfully integrated Britvic, prepared to take over a substantial soft drinks business in Central Asia, achieved positive results for our growth categories and accelerated growth in India.
“We’ve taken significant steps towards building a broad and diversified beverage portfolio.
“This will not only enable us to meet a wider range of consumer needs and occasions, but also strengthen our position as a world-class brewer.
“The combination of beer and soft drinks is therefore unlocking exciting new opportunities for both growth and value creation.”
