Let's take a look at them, shall we?
First, in table form:
Barclay Perkins output (barrels (1900-1955) | |||||||
Year | output | Year | output | Year | output | Year | output |
1900 | 589,201 | 1914 | 582,263 | 1928 | 306,300 | 1942 | 351,138 |
1901 | 573,302 | 1915 | 511,870 | 1929 | 300,569 | 1943 | 360,123 |
1902 | 541,822 | 1916 | 438,242 | 1930 | 394,016 | 1944 | 416,336 |
1903 | 539,153 | 1917 | 426,170 | 1931 | 395,779 | 1945 | 456,597 |
1904 | 534,284 | 1918 | 247,089 | 1932 | 353,736 | 1946 | 485,431 |
1905 | 549,634 | 1919 | 325,965 | 1933 | 312,739 | 1947 | 419,310 |
1906 | 560,103 | 1920 | 464,033 | 1934 | 348,267 | 1948 | 455,773 |
1907 | 555,370 | 1921 | 393,045 | 1935 | 356,832 | 1949 | 367,691 |
1908 | 527,716 | 1922 | 348,576 | 1936 | 378,084 | 1950 | 325,382 |
1909 | 525,854 | 1923 | 293,728 | 1937 | 386,700 | 1951 | 277,899 |
1910 | 500,205 | 1924 | 303,676 | 1938 | 406,310 | 1952 | 262,405 |
1911 | 549,841 | 1925 | 329,464 | 1939 | 404,777 | 1953 | 247,891 |
1912 | 589,543 | 1926 | 317,628 | 1940 | 388,114 | 1954 | 236,166 |
1913 | 587,547 | 1927 | 306,682 | 1941 | 302,647 | 1955 | 228,343 |
Sources: ACC/2305/1/711/1 in the The British Brewing Industry, 1830-1980 T. R. Gourvish & R.G. Wilson, pages 610-611 |
Now in a graph:
That's it. Except to point out that, with the postwar slump in their sales, it's no wonder Barcly perkins sold out to Courage in 1955. And to say that the ups and downs pretty much track the general state of the British brewing industry in the first half of the 20th century.
2 comments:
Was the post War slump the same across the board for other beer firms? What made people drink less? Rationing still? Post war desire for temperance and good living?
The general decline in output makes sense as does the decline during the war years. Just why did we as a country stop drinking in the 50's if this is representative for the majority of the beer market?
Mark, yes, the slump was general. The British economy was knackered at the end of WW II and the first few years of peace were pretty grim.
In general, when the economy is bad, beer consumption goes down. But I don't think that's the total answer to why people drank less beer. It seems to have partly just gone out of fashion'.
But, while the industry in general recovered in the 1950's, Barclay Perkins seems to have continued its slump. Not sure why that was. Doubtless they lost a lot of pubs during the war.
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