Wetherspoon’s splits with Heineken over Irish supply row

Ulster-born Tim Martin says Wetherspoon’s will no longer be trading with Heineken following a row over pricing at its RoI outlets

JD Wetherspoon has said it will no longer be dealing with Heineken in any of its 926 pubs after the brewer refused to supply Heineken lager and Murphy’s stout to the chain’s new Dun Laoghaire bar, The Forty Foot.

The dramatic decision brings to an end a 35-year relationship between the brewer and the well-known pub brand.

Wetherspoon’s had been selling both Heineken and Murphy’s for less than three euros a pint in its other RoI pub, The Three Tun Tavern at Blackrock, although the average price for these drinks in Irish pubs is around five euros.

According to Wetherspoon’s chairman, Ulster-born Tim Martin, Heineken had demanded personal guarantees from the chain’s chief executive, John Hutson, before it would agree to supply its product to The Forty Foot and speaking recenntly, Mr. Martin point out that such guarantees had never been sought before:

“It’s obstructive to do so now, especially when we made record profits of around £80m last year. The refusal to supply Heineken lager and Murphy’s just before the opening of our new pub in Dun Laoghaire, which represents an investment by us of nearly four million euros, is unacceptable and hard to understand.”

In response, Heineken acknowledged its “long standing and successful” relationship with Wetherspoon’s in the UK market and added:

“It is unfortunate that commercial issues in Ireland between Heineken Ireland and JD Wetherspoon have led to the current situation. We are seeking a resolution as soon as possible and it is not our intention to comment in any further detail at this point.”