Major brewers' joint venture seeks self-supply licence

Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company (CMBC) has applied for a self-supply licence.

The brewer, a joint venture between Carlsberg and Marston’s, produces a wide range of lagers, ales and craft beers, from sites across the country and a national distribution centre and depots.

CMBC aims to halve water user per hectolitre of beer produced by 2030, to use just 1.7hi/hl by eliminating water waste. By the end of this year, it is aiming to reduce water use at its breweries by 25% and go below 2hl/hl at all high risk breweries.

Marston’s has had a self supply licence since December 2017. Each of its breweries has its own water reporting framework in place, utilising AMR data and meter reads sent from the on-site engineers, displaying both live consumption and cost data broken down into each billed service component.

Now Marston's is part of CMBC, the joint venture said it has seen how having the self-supply licence has enabled data control, tailored water reporting, a direct relationship with wholesalers and a voice in the market.

Waterscan will act as managing agent for CMBC. Ofwat is consulting until 1 March on the application.