The Firm

54.carlsberg Breweries

In a nutshell: Probably the best Danish brewer in the world.

History: Carlsberg was founded by J.C Jacobsen who, in 1847, built a hilltop brewery near the city of Copenhagen and named it after Carl, his five-year old son, and 'berg' the Danish word for hill. Jacobsen trained his son to follow in his footsteps, but probably wished he hadn't bothered as, following a disagreement, in 1882 Carl opened a rival brewery under the name Ny 'new' Carlsberg. The two companies eventually reconciled their differences in 1906, 19 years after Jacobsen's death, when they joined forces to form Carlsberg Breweries. In 1970 it bought rival Danish brewery Tuborg and later brewer Tetley in 1997.

Brands you'd recognise: The company's extensive beer portfolio includes well-known brands over here, such as Tetley's, Abbey Ale, Holsten Pils, Skol, Carlsberg (naturally) and Baltika, as well as countless other lesser known brands, including Okocim, Koff, Tuborg, Harnas, Cardinal, Bock 1877 and the beautifully named Feldschlösschen -- which is how people tend to pronounce all of the other brands after they have had a skinful.

The strategy: Known as the 'golden words', the strategy is: 'to develop the art of making beer to the greatest possible degree of perfection in order that these breweries, as well as their products, may ever stand out as a model and' ... you get the picture.

Where you'd work: Carlsberg UK has two plants, at Leeds, the self-claimed "UK's favourite city" and at Northampton. However, it has international operations in Denmark, Italy, Poland and Bulgaria to name a few. Why it sponsors Liverpool football club, then, remains a mystery.

Do say at interview: Catchy slogan (the company's 'probably the best lager in the world' slogan is probably one of the best-known of the beer companies. But then Orson Welles did have a hand in it -- he provided the voice-over for the slogan's first airing in 1975).

Don't say at interview: Strike it lucky (Carlsberg had faced Christmas strike action at its Northampton plant over a new pay deal. Luckily all was resolved before one took place).

Contact: 01604 668866, http://www.carlsberg.com​