Brewdog Closes Bars for Staff Meetings Amid Sale

0:00On March 2nd, Scottish Craft Beer Company Brudog is closing all its bars on Monday to hold company-wide staff meetings. This move comes as the firm finalizes the sale after years without profits. Two weeks ago, they brought in consultants from Alex Partners to help with the process. Chief Executive James Taylor sent an email to employees outlining the all-hands calls for everyone. To make sure all staff can join and to handle licensing rules tied to the ownership shift, customers will stay shut for the day. They also pause food deliveries, beer shipments, and customer bookings. The company has hit rough patches lately. Last October, after a $37 million loss, they cut jobs across the business. Earlier this year, 10 UK bars shut down, including their main spot in Aberdeen. Last month, they stopped making gin and vodka at their Scottish distillery to refocus efforts. Brudog started in 2007 in Aberdeen Shire as a bold challenger to big brewers.

1:00But last year, they drew criticism for dropping the real living wage for new hires in favor of the minimum. Co-founder James Watt stepped down as CEO to a new captain role and another executive left for personal reasons. With around 1,400 employees and breweries in the US, Australia, and Germany, staff now look to Monday's meetings for sale updates. This could mark a big turn for the once-rebellious brand. This could mark a big turn for the once-rebellious brand.