Whitbread Plc walked away from more than 250 years of British brewing history Thursday when it agreed to sell its beermaking operation to Belgium's Interbrew for nearly $600 million. Whitbread, which produces such popular ales as Boddingtons and Flowers, is Britain's third largest brewer, behind Newcastle and Bass. But beermaking wasn't that important to Whitbread any more, which makes most of its dough running Britain's Marriott hotel chain, along with Lloyd sports clubs, Beefeater restaurants, and Costa coffee bars. So, goodbye to all that.
Cry in Your Beer
Whitbread Plc walked away from more than 250 years of British brewing history Thursday when it agreed to sell its beermaking operation to Belgium's Interbrew for nearly $600 million. Whitbread, which produces such popular ales as Boddingtons and Flowers, is Britain's third largest brewer, behind Newcastle and Bass. But beermaking wasn't that important to Whitbread any more, which makes most of its dough running Britain's Marriott hotel chain, along with Lloyd sports clubs, Beefeater restaurants, and Costa coffee bars. So, goodbye to all that.
