Liberation boss “thrilled” by £118m sale

Thursday 07 July 2016

The Chief Executive of the Liberation Group says employees should be “excited, thrilled and happy” following the £118m sale to Caledonia.

Mark Crowther says new owners, Caledonia, have ambitions expansion plans for the group to double in size in the next five years.

Liberation’s Chief Executive is also adamant that it will ‘business as usual’ for the group’s 900 employees in Jersey, Guernsey, France and the UK mainland. 

Except that the new £40m injection of finances from Caledonia should be welcomed as they have “very deep pockets.”

Mr Crowther, who took over the Liberation group in 2008, said the sale to Caledonia is fantastic news for the company. 

He said: “I’m extremely pleased about the fact we have a new majority shareholder in Caledonia, who have brought into the company and want to make it work even better. The plan is to double the size of the company across all its businesses over the next five years and these are very exciting times for us. 

“Caledonia like what they see in the businesses and they want it to carry on with the same team in charge. The fact is that Caledonia have very deep pockets and they want to see Liberation and all its businesses expand rapidly over the next few years. 

“I am staying as Chief Executive and the board will retain the same people it has had for years because Caledonia are convinced that is the best way forward. One of the key attractions for them was the make-up of the boardroom and that shall remain the same, with a new majority shareholder on board.  

“In terms of jobs and investment, there are some really good things coming to the company, which has been performing very strongly. I think the employees will be the same as me, excited, thrilled and happy that a new majority shareholder, which is dedicated to expansion, is in place.”

As well as Liberation's 900 employees, the group owns 94 managed and tenanted pubs, two breweries and three other businesses, but despite its base in Jersey, Mr Crowther cannot force himself to become a follower of the Island’s rugby club. 

That’s because he commutes every week to his home in Bath. “I’m afraid that is one aspect of me which will never change as I will always want the best for Jersey Reds, but I’m a Bath follower though and through. I can’t change that I’m afraid.”

Crowther, who previously worked for Allied Domecq, Diageo, Carlsberg, Brakes and his own bar chain, The Front Room, is enthused at the prospect of the Liberation group’s continual growth. 

In December 2014, Liberation acquired the Butcombe Brewery and pub businesses near Bristol as a platform for expansion in the UK.

Caledonia is backing the existing management team, providing an additional £40 million of funding for investment, both in its heartland in the Channel Islands and the West Country. 

Mr Crowther said: “Caledonia are only interested in growth and investment and they see a model which is working very well, but wish to put more financial muscle behind it. As the new majority shareholder their ‘buying in’ to the company’s core values means only good news for employees.

“These are really exciting times for everyone involved in Liberation.”