Tennent's lager makes £24m profit for parent C&C Group

The company's investment in the brand rose through football sponsorship and T in the Park

Glasgow-based Tennent's brewery has made a £24m operating profit for its parent company C&C Group.

The Irish drinks group bought Tennent's in 2009.

The company said investment levels in the lager rose to more than 11% through sponsorship of Rangers and Celtic and in T in the Park.

The amount of the lager sold increased overall by 1% although through off-licences and supermarkets, sales declined by 7%.

C&C Group top brands include Bulmers and Magners cider.

In a statement the company said: "The contribution from the Tennent's acquisition is pleasing and there are early indications that the route to market strength in Scotland will prove to be positive for the development of Magners."

The GMB union welcomed the contribution Tennent's made to C&C's overall results and called for the workers to get a pay rise.

Richard Leonard, GMB organiser for union members at the brewery, said "GMB expect that the workforce, who, after all create this wealth will get something more than the freeze on basic pay they endured last year.

"It is not unreasonable for this success to be shared a little more evenly this year when we sit down at the negotiating table later this summer."

Overall C&C's earnings before tax came to £88m.