'Six or seven' businesses considering bids for Black Sheep in Masham

The news that there is a surge of interest in the iconic Masham business - with what is understood to be six or seven separate conversations going on - follows a week of concern for workers after the company said it planned to appoint administrators.

Charlene said: "We are feeling positive and optimistic. There is absolutely nothing right now to suggest that we are facing closure.
"We have several parties who are excited about working with us supporting the brand, the business and the people. We are feeling fairly confident in the future."

She said support from the local community had been 'heartwarming' and that there would be a decison in just a few weeks from 'strategic partners that are familiar with the sector and a couple of other big investors'.

"They each have different experiences to bring to the party, all centred around support and the ability to grow Black Sheep and a continuation of business as usual."

Read more: History of Masham's Black Sheep Brewery as administrators called in

Earlier this month, the company announced it had commenced a review of its strategic options, including the possibility of a sale because of 'constraints on its funding'.

The Board said then that it had not received any offers for the issued and to be issued share capital of the company, which sparked concerns that the brewery site could be lost, but Charlene said: "The people that have come forward now that are interested are looking at a slightly different transaction.

Black Sheep Brewery (Image: Press release)

"Whatever happens, we are working really hard with our suppliers and the local community - this is as collaborative as it can be. For us, the story now is very much about buyers coming forward to save our business, our brand and to protect jobs.

"This situation has been tough and difficult, but ultimately what we are intending to achieve with several of the interested parties is success and growth for this business now and well into the future. The core business model is not broken."

Read more: Black Sheep calls in administrators as boss says 'perfect storm' was too much

Jobs have been at the centre of the concerns, but the impact on the local area of losing the business and its towering building has been a real fear. Charlene said that the plans of any potential buyer were difficult to predict.

"The nature of any deal will vary depending on the individuals involved," she said. "But the brand is linked very much to Masham, the community and the heritage here.

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"So if you try to take the business out of Masham and brew wherever else it's not going to be the same. All the conversations we have had over the last few days talk about preservation of the business as it is.

"There is nothing at all to suggest that will be destroyed."

Read more: Shell shocked Masham hopes Black Sheep Brewery can be saved

The personal side of her business - the people she works with and the community around her - matter to her and the pressure on her has been immense, but like many experienced business leaders she has remained resilient and focused.

"I'm doing fine because I am surrounded by a great team of people and amazing advisers and have been just inundated with support for Black Sheep, which is really heartwarming," she told me.

Black Sheep was set up by Paul Theakston following Theakston being sold to a larger brewer (Scottish & Newcastle), before Theakston Brewery was bought back by the family in 2003 and has been in family control ever since.

It has continued to champion its independence and remains with Paul's family with his sons Rob and Jo playing key roles in the brewery’s daily operations.