Tennent's lager have been blasted for furloughing staff- while boasting about massive sales during the lockdown.
Drivers and crew at depots in Cambuslang, Ayrshire and Inverness have been placed on the 80 per cent scheme as pubs no longer require deliveries.
But angry workers have hit out at the policy, with one source saying -given the sales from home drinkers- the depot staff should be topped up to 100 per cent until the crisis passes.
An internal email to staff, seen by the Record, says that the firm is delivering more beers than in the Christmas period and breaking records at the warehouse- and a 40 per cent boost in supermarket and off trade sales.
It says: "So far in (financial year 21) we have produced approximately 46.3million cans and bottles, up on the same weeks in (financial year 20) of 42million cans and bottles.
"Over the last three weeks, Thornliebank (distribution centre)have been delivering orders larger than Christmas and still hitting delivery schedules even in these very demanding times.
"We'd also like to say thanks to our off trade and direct to store sales teams who are working closely with customers to ensure we can meet their requirements, with volumes in the off trade up 40% in March."
With the lockdown extending across the UK many people have been reaching for the booze with increased drinks sales reported.
Alcohol sales in supermarkets and corner shops jumped by 22 per cent in March, according to consumer analysts Kanta
A source said: "The staff really aren't happy, they just think the situation is a farce.
"We've been looking at how some smaller brewers have handled the lockdown and wondered why we can't be treated like that.
"I don’t see why a huge company like Tennent's aren’t topping up the 20 per cent- they are still making huge profit through this pandemic and are recording record sales likened to Christmas in off sale and supermarket trade."
Kenny Gray, managing director for Tennent Caledonian Scotland, said: “The coronavirus pandemic continues to have a hugely detrimental impact.
"This has been felt most acutely in the on-trade, which includes pubs, clubs, hotels, bars and restaurants, which have been closed since 21st March, and which account for 80 per cent of our revenue. This means that we have been unable to sell or deliver to the majority of our usual customers.
"As a result, we have put in place temporary measures across our business to deploy resources where they are most needed. This means that we are increasing our focus on the off-trade, such as supermarkets and shops. Sales in this area are performing strongly – but it does not compensate for the significant loss in business resulting from the closure of the on-trade.
"Given this, we have had to take the difficult decision to place approximately 70 per cent of our employees on a temporary furlough from 1st April.
"We have engaged fully with those affected, and their representative organisations, to manage this transition effectively and are providing ongoing support and assurances that these are temporary measures. Our furlough payments go beyond the support offered by the Government.
"The measures we have applied have resulted in an average 20 per cent salary reduction across our workforce.
"The Executive leadership team and board have reduced their remuneration by 30 per cent and 40 per cent respectively for an initial three months. We have also worked hard to significantly reduce operating costs and capital spend."
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