Tennent’s owner C&C sees slip in performance – Daily Business

Roger White said Tennent’s held its market share

Tennent’s owner C&C Group said financial performance for the past year was below expectations as saw revenue and profit slipped.

The Dublin-based group said current conditions mean “forecasting consumer behaviour and demand is challenging for all”.

Notwithstanding this uncertainty, the group said it has strong plans in place across the business, and currently expects to meet full-year financial objectives.

Tennent’s and Bulmers cider maintained their market leading positions.

Profit before tax for the year to the end of February fell to €49.8m from €55.9m last time. Group revenue came in at €1.57bn, down from €1.67bn. It is proposed that the dividend is cut to 3.67 cents from 4.13 cents.

Chief executive Roger White said the company was operating “in a period of heightened uncertainty”.

He added: “We have made demonstrable progress in multiple areas across the group in the past 12 months and now have a more stable operating platform from which to build.

“Having established the best route forward for C&C Group to create value and having done much of the preliminary enabling work required, we now look forward with a renewed focus and drive to deliver the necessary change and improvements we have identified to support our value creation ambitions.

“We will continue to develop the growing C&C brands portfolio, with our brand innovation pipeline now firmly established. We anticipate a series of exciting brand initiatives and a strong promotional programme across the key summer months.”

In March 2026, the group acquired long term partner Innis & Gunn whose beers it brews at the Wellpark Brewery in Glasgow.

Mr White said: “The integration of Innis & Gunn into our operating and commercial footprint was delivered seamlessly in the weeks following completion and serves to highlight the capacity and capability to integrate and create valuable synergies from the right opportunities.

“We expect to develop this premium craft ale and lager brand further across FY2027.”

Speaking later to Daily Business he admitted that the wholesale business had seen a difficult period as customers turned away from wine and spirits to more beer which is a lower margin business.

“Last year was not a year we might have wanted. We made a lot of progress but not what we hoped for,” he said.

The company is hopeful of an upturn from the World Cup, particularly as Scotland has qualified alongside England.

The popularity of its new Tennent’s Bavarian Pilsner, introduced as a “brand teaser” could become a permanent feature of the portfolio.

“It will show that the brand is more than just a big yellow can,” said Mr White.

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