Parent company to Wells and Young’s Brewing Company and Charles Wells Pub Company, the 130-year-old business secured the position as one of the UK’s top mid-market companies by generating a turnover of more than £210 million.
The company has risen 33 places in the league table from 2007, and has
turned Wells and Young’s into the UK’s largest private brewery, and Charles Wells Pub Company into an award-winning pub operator.
Charles Wells chief executive Paul Wells (pictured) said: “We are very pleased to be recognised as one of the UK’s best-performing companies. The rankings are very well respected across all industries and they are seen as the definitive barometer of growth companies. It is a testament to our whole team here, and our licensees who have all played their part in the success of Charles Wells Ltd which remains one of Bedford’s, and the UK’s, best performing private companies.â€
Charles Wells has been based in Bedford since 1876 and at its current site in Havelock Street since 1975. It merged with Young and Co plc in 2006 and the newly formed Wells and Young’s acquired the Courage portfolio of brands that include Courage Best and Directors. Charles Wells Ltd now accounts for 240 Charles Wells pubs, including pubs in France, Hungary and Russia, and a range of beers including Wells Bombardier, Young’s Bitter, Red Stripe and Corona Extra.
The Sunday Times HSBC Top Track 250 league table ranks Britain’s biggest mid-market private companies by latest sales. Companies are ranked by sales reported in their latest accounts. Sales must not exceed £500 million.
