Profits up at Cumbrian brewery

The brewer says the hot summer has also increased beer sales

Cumbrian brewer Jennings Brothers plc has announced an increase in profits.

The Cockermouth-based company reported on Thursday a 2.4% increase in turnover to more than £9m in the 26-week period up to 30 August 2003.

Its pre-tax profit is up by 15.8% to £1.79m.

The company says one of the keys to its success is that it has been focusing on pubs which are at the heart of their communities.

The InnVentures pub acquisition programme is Jennings Brothers principal business and has been buying pubs across the north of England

Its future plans are a major focus on Cumbria.

Calendar Girls

It says the programme will continue throughout the year and is expected to remain a key priority for the future.

The hot summer period had also given tourism a boost in Cumbria which had helped increase beer sales.

The brewer said a highlight of the late summer had seen it team up with film company BuenaVista International for a promotion to mark the British film Calendar Girls.

Jennings sponsored the original calendar and sold more than 600,000 copies from its Cockermouth brewery.

The company also announced an agreement to brew and distribute Ward's Best Bitter which has been out of circulation since 1999 when the Ward's Brewery in Sheffield was closed.