Damm, Spain’s largest brewing business, has officially opened its first brewery outside the Iberian Peninsula – The Damm Eagle Brewery in Bedford, England.
Since acquiring the historic brewery in 2022, Damm has invested more than £70m in a complete modernisation. This includes a state-of-the-art canning line and an additional brewstream, almost doubling capacity to 1.8 million hectolitres per year, with a target of 2 million by 2027.
Damm noted that it has transformed the Bedford brewery to meet industry-leading standards, maintaining its commitment to quality, efficiency and a strong service-oriented approach, while reinforcing its ambition to become the UK’s largest independent beer company.
Jorge Villavecchia, Managing Director of Damm, commented: “Our commitment goes beyond capital investment. We are bringing skills, innovation and a vision of how industry must evolve to remain competitive: more digital, more sustainable, more resilient. This country has shown, time and again, its ability to adapt and emerge stronger from adversity. That is why we believe that our decision to invest in Bedford will contribute not only to Damm’s growth, but also to the resilience of the UK’s wider economy.”
Damm noted that its investment will enable it to meet the increased UK demand for its flagship Mediterranean lager, Estrella Damm, with 150 pints poured every minute nationally. With double-digit growth in the past year, the UK market is on track for a record 2025, and 2026 is projected to deliver another record-breaking year, backed by new commercial and manufacturing partnerships.
NAM Implications:
- Given Damm is already established in the UK…
- …this move has to be about getting closer to its market and cutting cost of production.
- So, rivals will calculate the incremental impact…
- …and react accordingly.
- Keeping in mind the combined forces affecting demand:
- Hospitality demand reduction
- The move to Lo-No among young consumers
- A build-up of competitive activity can be expected…
