Both Beamish & Crawford and Murphys are expected to increase production significantly if the Guinness strike is prolonged.
Beamish would not specify what its immediate plans were, but in a statement yesterday said the company was monitoring the situation and would be in a position to supply its customer requirements. Its products include Miller, Fosters and Carling.
During the protracted Guinness strike of 1974, Beamish became highly popular with Guinness drinkers and laid the foundation for an impressive increase in the company's market share. Beamish stout now holds a 25 per cent share of the Cork market, and 7 per cent of the overall stout market.