BrewDog calls in turnaround consultants to explore sale after £37-million loss: report
Scottish brewer BrewDog has enlisted turnaround experts AlixPartners to orchestrate a potential sale or breakup of the business following a string of hefty financial setbacks, the BBC reports.
The company, once hailed as a rebellious disruptor in the beer industry, reported a £37 million loss for 2025, capping off five consecutive years in the red and prompting drastic measures like job cuts and pub closures.
Founded in 2007 by James Watt and Martin Dickie in a garage in Fraserburgh, Scotland, BrewDog exploded onto the scene with bold marketing stunts, like brewing the world’s strongest beer and crowdfunding campaigns that raised £75 million from ‘Equity Punks’ – everyday investors lured by perks like discounts and exclusive brews.
Today, it boasts breweries in the UK, the US, Australia, and Germany, plus around 72 bars worldwide, employing about 1,400 people.
A flat beer
Brewdog’s losses hit £59 million in 2023, narrowed slightly to £36.6 million in 2024, before landing at £37 million last year, blamed on economic headwinds, impairment costs, and operational overhauls.
The group has now appointed AlixPartners, specialists in business restructuring, to lead a ‘structured and competitive process’ evaluating fresh investment or a full sale.
A BrewDog spokesperson told the BBC that this was a ‘deliberate and disciplined step’ after a 2025 focus on cost-cutting and efficiencies, insisting operations remain business as usual while expecting substantial interest.
An internal email sent to staff, seen by the BBC, states that ‘this is a normal and prudent step, and no decisions have been made. Our bars and breweries continue to operate as normal’.
