A beer industry veteran who oversees Burger King’s UK operations has been named as chairman at Scottish brewer Innis & Gunn.
Martin Robinson, a former director of Scottish & Newcastle’s pubs business, joins the Edinburgh brewer as it looks to build on strong growth of its lager brand and acceleration of its retail business.
Robinson is currently chairman of Burger King UK, Parkdean Resorts and Inspiring Learning. He has also chaired Center Parcs in the UK and Europe, as well as Wagamama, Casual Dining group and Holmes Place Health Clubs, and sat for many years on the boards of Disneyland Paris and Regus.
Dougal Gunn Sharp, Innis & Gunn founder, said Robinson “brings a wealth of retail, brand building and strategic management expertise as we embark on some of our biggest strategic initiatives to date”.
He added: “More and more people are drinking Innis & Gunn beers as they become more discerning about what they drink. We see clear evidence that drinkers are outgrowing the mass-produced beers that have dominated the beer scene for so long.”
Robinson said he was excited to be joining the Edinburgh-based brewer Innis & Gunn as it gears up for its next phase of expansion in the UK and abroad.
He added: “I’ve been very impressed by Dougal and his team and the fantastic results they’ve achieved with their beers and bars thus far, particularly the performance of their lager in Scotland and the strength of the International business. To be part of the team which builds a new brewery in Edinburgh and expands the business from its Scottish heartland will be a great honour and one which I relish.”
The brewer’s total beer volume grew by 14.8% in 2018 driven by a 38% rise in the sale of its lager, making it the largest craft beer by volume and value in Scotland.
The brewer’s first international bar recently opened in Barcelona airport, with several others in the pipeline as it looks to expand its retail presence both domestically and internationally. Around 40% of Innis & Gunn’s beer sales now come from overseas markets. The group’s former chairman Tony Hunt stepped down in April.
