Theakston’s grows sales of cask ale and sees turnover increase
Yorkshire-based brewery T&R Theakston has marked its third consecutive year of growth. db finds out how cask ale has played its part. The post Theakston’s grows sales of cask ale and sees turnover increase appeared first on The Drinks Business.
Yorkshire-based brewery T&R Theakston has marked its third consecutive year of growth. db finds out how cask ale has played its part.
The family-owned brewery saw a pre-tax profit of £271,000 in 2024, reflecting an increase from £248,000 compared to the previous year and three years of fiscal growth.
According to the brewery’s annual report, the brewery also saw turnover increase by 7% to £8.8 million in the same period, however, it has revealed that it has continued to respond to the challenges facing its pub customers with a cautious approach to price increases in order to minimise the cost pressures to them and their patrons.
The figures reveal how, throughout 2024, the business drove increased consumer demand for both its cask ale brands and its premium bottled ales. It also revealed how its largest brands Theakston Best, Theakston Old Peculier and Theakston XB all grew in cask sales over the period which also marked the first full year of Theakston Quencher, a newly developed lower ABV beer at 3.4%, being available.
The figures also have shown how Theakston’s has taken a longer-term view of its future and, with increased capital investment into the brewery supporting its focus on consistent beer quality, is now seeing success.
Speaking about the results, T&R Theakston managing director Richard Bradbury said: “These results highlight that our commitment to producing high quality beer, supporting our pub customers and listening to our consumers, is not only the right thing to do but is delivering positive results for our business.”
Bradbury explained how cask had played its part and noted how “with demand for high quality cask ale from consumers on the increase as a result of renewed interest in the category, we’ve seen our volumes grow by over 8%”.
He hinted that also being savvy about no and low trends and sating consumer demand had also been integral to the results, flagging how a traditional company can still serve up new and interesting beers that hit the mark.
Bradbury highlighted: “This in itself reflects the strength of our leading brands but also our ability to create new beers such as Quencher to meet growing desire for lower ABV products. Our ambition to continue to push forward and innovate has also seen the launch of Nowt Peculier at the end of this reporting period. Nowt Peculier takes our iconic Old Peculier and removes the alcohol while retaining the distinctive flavour characteristics, creating a new 0.0% beer that has been welcomed by both our on and off trade customers.”
Our performance has also been buoyed by the increased availability of our beers internationally with exports to places including America, Australia and Italy accounting for 4% of our turnover, double that of the previous year.”
The report notes that the business’s success remains grounded in consistently excellent beer quality and that looking to the future, the brewery is optimistic about its brand strength, but cautious about market conditions in 2025, highlighting increased costs affecting the viability of pub customers, packaging waste charges increasing the cost of products in the off trade and the impact of tariffs on its supply to the USA, all having potential impacts on its bottom line.
Bradbury added: “Despite short term economic conditions looking challenging, we believe the brewery is well placed to out-perform the market. With a solid business foundation, healthy balance sheet and secure financial arrangements, we remain focused on growing our revenue through not only our strong brand performance but through broadening of our customer base. It’s with this in mind that we are confident T&R Theakston is well placed to continue to perform strongly, as we look forward to celebrating our bicentenary in 2027 and building beyond that into our third century of brewing legendary ales.”
Theakstons has had a successful start to 2025 securing new listings for Nowt Peculier 0.0% beer in 170 Sainsbury’s stores nationwide, as well as also seeing increased distribution for Theakston Quencher in more than 500 Asda and Morrisons stores.
The family-owned brewery saw a pre-tax profit of £271,000 in 2024, reflecting an increase from £248,000 compared to the previous year and three years of fiscal growth.
According to the brewery’s annual report, the brewery also saw turnover increase by 7% to £8.8 million in the same period, however, it has revealed that it has continued to respond to the challenges facing its pub customers with a cautious approach to price increases in order to minimise the cost pressures to them and their patrons.
The figures reveal how, throughout 2024, the business drove increased consumer demand for both its cask ale brands and its premium bottled ales. It also revealed how its largest brands Theakston Best, Theakston Old Peculier and Theakston XB all grew in cask sales over the period which also marked the first full year of Theakston Quencher, a newly developed lower ABV beer at 3.4%, being available.
The figures also have shown how Theakston’s has taken a longer-term view of its future and, with increased capital investment into the brewery supporting its focus on consistent beer quality, is now seeing success.
Speaking about the results, T&R Theakston managing director Richard Bradbury said: “These results highlight that our commitment to producing high quality beer, supporting our pub customers and listening to our consumers, is not only the right thing to do but is delivering positive results for our business.”
Bradbury explained how cask had played its part and noted how “with demand for high quality cask ale from consumers on the increase as a result of renewed interest in the category, we’ve seen our volumes grow by over 8%”.
He hinted that also being savvy about no and low trends and sating consumer demand had also been integral to the results, flagging how a traditional company can still serve up new and interesting beers that hit the mark.
Bradbury highlighted: “This in itself reflects the strength of our leading brands but also our ability to create new beers such as Quencher to meet growing desire for lower ABV products. Our ambition to continue to push forward and innovate has also seen the launch of Nowt Peculier at the end of this reporting period. Nowt Peculier takes our iconic Old Peculier and removes the alcohol while retaining the distinctive flavour characteristics, creating a new 0.0% beer that has been welcomed by both our on and off trade customers.”
Our performance has also been buoyed by the increased availability of our beers internationally with exports to places including America, Australia and Italy accounting for 4% of our turnover, double that of the previous year.”
The report notes that the business’s success remains grounded in consistently excellent beer quality and that looking to the future, the brewery is optimistic about its brand strength, but cautious about market conditions in 2025, highlighting increased costs affecting the viability of pub customers, packaging waste charges increasing the cost of products in the off trade and the impact of tariffs on its supply to the USA, all having potential impacts on its bottom line.
Bradbury added: “Despite short term economic conditions looking challenging, we believe the brewery is well placed to out-perform the market. With a solid business foundation, healthy balance sheet and secure financial arrangements, we remain focused on growing our revenue through not only our strong brand performance but through broadening of our customer base. It’s with this in mind that we are confident T&R Theakston is well placed to continue to perform strongly, as we look forward to celebrating our bicentenary in 2027 and building beyond that into our third century of brewing legendary ales.”
Theakstons has had a successful start to 2025 securing new listings for Nowt Peculier 0.0% beer in 170 Sainsbury’s stores nationwide, as well as also seeing increased distribution for Theakston Quencher in more than 500 Asda and Morrisons stores. 
