Molson Coors is tapping into UK stout market growth with the launch of a product under its Caffrey’s brand.
In a statement, the group said Caffrey’s Black Stout was “crafted to meet growing consumer demand while providing strong value for both drinkers and operators”.
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The launch marks the Carling brand owner’s entry into the stout category since Molson Coors’ took ownership of Caffrey’s, the business told Just Drinks.
The 3.4% abv product is available across UK on-trade venues from this month. The nitrogen-infused beer sits alongside Caffrey’s Irish Ale in Molson’s portfolio.
Commenting on the launch, Kev Fawell, UK and Ireland sales director for Molson Coors, said: “Stout continues to attract a broader range of drinkers, moving beyond its traditional audience. That shift presents a clear opportunity for established brands such as Caffrey’s to play a role in the category’s next phase of growth.
“The introduction of Caffrey’s Black Stout to our leading portfolio, with a strong value proposition, represents our commitment to supporting our customers and the evolving tastes of their guests.”
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By GlobalDataCaffrey’s was launched in 1897 by Thomas Caffrey, initially specialising in stout and porter beers.
The new Black Stout however is the first stout drink to be sold under Caffrey’s since Molson Coors bought the brand in 2002, the US brewing major confirmed.
Caffrey’s Black Stout will only be marketed to the UK “for now”, it said.
Citing data from consumer market research group Kantar, the Chicago-based business said the UK stout market had attracted 31% more drinkers since 2023, with there being “particularly strong growth” with drinkers between the ages of 25 and 34.
Caffrey’s stout will be competing with major stout brands in the UK like Diageo’s Guinness. While Guinness still largely dominates in pubs across the country, other companies have also been boosting their presence in the UK such as Murphy’s and BrewDog’s Black Heart.
Research from GlobalData, Just Drinks’ parent, estimates the value of stout in the UK will have an 8.2% CAGR by 2029, reaching $3.3bn. Volumes are forecast to sit at 3.7 million hectolitres by the same year.
