JW Lees staff to benefit in £440,000 profit share

JW Lees staff are to share over £440,000 profit share as the Middleton brewery increased sales to £64m in the financial year ending March 31 2015.

The figures were announced during the company’s annual conference at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, where bosses said the figure was achieved by principally acquiring and developing new pubs.

It is understood that the company will now pay more than 400 staff from a profit share of £440,942 with each team member set to receive an average pay-out of just over £1,000.

Founded in 1828, JW Lees is a sixth-generation family business which brews seven real ales as well as one larger, three smooth beers and seven limited edition seasonal cask ales.

JW Lees employs just over 1,000 people - 140 at the brewery and site at Middleton Junction and 865 in its 35 managed pubs, inns and hotels, as well as letting a further 142 tied pubs to self-employed tenants.

In the past twelve months the company has bought two new tenanted pubs and has opened its second managed Duttons Café Bar in Albert Square, Manchester.

The company is also in talks with Rochdale Council to bring a Duttons to Number One Riverside in Rochdale Town Centre.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/92670/jw-lees-negotiating-to-open-a-duttons-bar-and-restaurant-in-number-one-riverside