Grupo Mahou – San Miguel announced today that it has reached an agreement with Molson Coors to distribute and market Carling, the top-selling British beer in the United Kingdom.

This agreement forms a strategic alliance that strengthens the Grupo Mahou – San Miguel catalogue. Carling is a quality beer product that is widely accepted by British consumers who live in or visit Spain, including an estimated 15 million visitors per year from the British Isles and more than one million British citizens who own property in Spain.

Grupo Mahou – San Miguel will distribute Carling on the mainland as well as in the Balearic Islands and the Canaries, both in barrels and cans for the hotel market.

This distribution caters to British consumers in Spain, supplying them with one of their most valued beer brands in the UK. In fact, one in four lagers served in Britain is Carling, totalling 1.65 billion pints consumed per year.

The beer’s success can be attributed to quality ingredients selected through a meticulous process and the use of special barley with a sweet flavour and a strong malt taste. The result is a soft and refreshing pint.

“Carling is a leading brand in Europe and the rest of the world, so we are very proud to distribute it here in Spain. This agreement will help us deliver more of what our customers want,” said a Grupo Mahou – San Miguel representative. “By distributing a favourite traditional brand from the United Kingdom - one of the largest beer markets in the world - we are once again reinforcing our own leadership in the Spanish market.”

“We are proud to partner with Mahou – San Miguel and excited about the opportunity to expand the distribution of the UK’s top selling lager to beer drinkers across Spain. Not only can British visitors to Spain enjoy the same great taste they have enjoyed for decades back home, but now we can also share this leading brand with fellow drinkers across this beautiful country,” said Dave McCarthy, managing director of Europe, Molson Coors International.

“An integral part of Molson Coors’ international growth strategy is establishing these kinds of valued partnerships with leading brewers. We are confident that extending the Carling brand in Europe’s fourth largest beer market will give us even greater momentum as we plan for additional partnership opportunities across Europe and elsewhere around the world,” added McCarthy.

Grupo Mahou - San Miguel

Mahou – San Miguel is the leading brand on the Spanish beer market. The company markets a wide selection of beers, like Mahou Cinco Estrellas or San Miguel Especial. In 2004 the group incorporated the Canary Island brand Reina, and Cervezas Alhambra in 2007. Furthermore, as a brand that backs constant innovation, it was the first company to launch beverages like San Miguel 0,0%, the first completely non-alcoholic beer, and San Miguel ECO, made integrally with organic products. In 2009, so as to encourage its international expansion, the group signed an agreement with Carlsberg based on two main points: the Danish company acquired the rights to distribute and market San Miguel in the United Kingdom and Mahou – San Miguel acquired the rights to do the same with Grimbergen and Tetley’s in Spain. Finally, in 2009 the brand also entered into an agreement with Grupo Constellation to distribute Blackthorn and Gaymers ciders in Spain.

Molson Coors Brewing Company

Molson Coors Brewing Company is a leading global brewer delivering extraordinary brands that delight the world’s beer drinkers. It brews, markets and sells a portfolio of leading premium brands such as Carling, Coors Light, Molson Canadian, Blue Moon, and Keystone Light across North America, Europe and Asia. It operates in Canada through Molson Coors Canada; in the U.S. through MillerCoors; and in the UK and Ireland through Molson Coors UK. For more information on Molson Coors Brewing Company and our portfolio of brands, visit the company's Web site, www.molsoncoors.com.