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Rupert Thompson, of Wychwood Brewery

THE former owner of the Wychwood Brewery in Witney says it has a rosy future following its sale to Midlands pub and brewing group Marston's.

Chief executive Rupert Thompson said the deal was good news for staff because Wychwood could now sell more of its Hobgoblin and Brakspear beer to pubs.

All 50 Witney staff are being kept on by Marston.

He said "There is a long-term commitment by Marston that is very positive for the staff.

"We have had great success as an independent company with Hobgoblin and Brakspear, particularly in supermarkets, but we have always found it difficult to get our beer into pubs."

No price has been announced but estimates are between £10 and £15m.

He said: "When a company merges with another, there are always likely to be one or two overlaps, but I would have thought that they were pretty minimal."

Wychood was bought in 2000 by Refresh following the death of founder Chris Moss. Refresh, set up as a management buyout of Ushers of Trowbridge, moved its HQ to Witney in 2004.

Mr Thompson, the major Refresh shareholder, will bow out after six months, while director James Coyle will join Marston's board.

Mr Thompson said: "Refresh has achieved a great deal in the eight years since it was founded. It is now the number three supplier of premium bottled ales to supermarkets and Hobgoblin is one of the fastest growing premium ales in the UK.

He added: "I am confident that Marston's will provide a great home for Refresh, allowing its brands and people to develop further."

Marston's spokesman Jeremy Eaton said Wychwood, the UK's largest brewer of organic ales, including Duchy Originals Organic Ale, was a growing business, particularly in supermarket sales of premium beer.

"We absolutely respect what it is all about. It will complement our own business."

Refresh was praised for keeping the Brakspear beers in Oxfordshire following the closure of Brakspear's Henley brewery in 2002. It now produces 50,000 barrels of beer a year at Witney's Eagle Maltings, which is at full capacity.

Last year, Refresh UK's parent company turned over £24.9m and generated earnings before interest and taxation of £1.1m.

Marston's - formerly Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries - has 2,275 pubs and four breweries: Banks's Brewery in Wolverhampton, Marston's at Burton-on-Trent, Jennings at Cockermouth in the Lake District and Ringwood brewery in Hampshire.

2:06pm Thursday 10th April 2008

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